Method for providing and obtaining content

ABSTRACT

In a data providing server  1101,  whether or not specified compressed content data D 51  generated by means of a specified compression coding method corresponding to terminal identification information has been stored in a content database  1113  is detected, according to content specifying data D 53  transmitted from a portable dedicated terminal  1104.  If the specified compressed content data D 51  has been stored, the data providing server  1101  reads and transmits this to the portable dedicated terminal  1104.  And if the specified compressed content data D 51  has not been stored, the data providing server  1101  generates the specified compressed content data D 51  by means of the specified compression coding method, and transmits this to the portable dedicated terminal  1104.  Thereby, the specified compressed content data D 51  generated by means of a specified decoding method can be properly provided to the portable dedicated terminal  1104,  and the user can easily view a content based on the content data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a content providing and obtainingsystem, and is applicable, for example, to a data providing system forproviding data on various distribution information such as variouscontent data and the advertisement, of music, motion pictures, etc.(hereinafter, this is referred to as distribution data) to a customer bymeans of the Internet.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In recent years, the Internet being a computer communicationnetwork that it had been used in many institutes or the like forresearch and study in the world scale, has been quickly popularized alsoamong companies and customers as a computer communication tool, by a usein business such as sale for merchandise, distribution of content data,and advertisement of a company and merchandise.

[0005] By using the Internet in business, the customer can buy desiredmerchandise and can obtain desired content data by a personal computerfor instance, while staying at home. At the same time, the customer canobtain various distribution data such as the advertisement of a companyand merchandise by the personal computer.

[0006] In the distribution of content data on the Internet, thetransmission efficiency of the content data can be improved bytransmitting compressively-coded content data to a customer's personalcomputer.

[0007] In the customer's personal computer, thus obtainedcompressively-coded content data is decoded, and the customer can view acontent based on the content data.

[0008] However, in recent years, plural kinds of methods have beenintroduced into the market as methods of compressively coding contentdata. A compression coding method to be used is different depending onthe manufacturing company of the content data or the like.

[0009] On the other hand, in the customer's personal computer, normally,a decoding software corresponding to a specified compression codingmethod is installed, or a decoding circuit only corresponding to theabove specified compression coding method is provided to restrainincreasing the circuit scale or the like.

[0010] Therefore, in the customer's personal computer, if the decodingsoftware and the decoding circuit do not cope with the compressioncoding method that was used in the compression coding of the obtainedcontent data, the content data cannot be decoded until the customernewly obtain a decoding software and a decoding circuit cope with that.There has been a problem that the customer cannot easily view thecontent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In view of the foregoing, an object of this invention is toprovide a content providing and obtaining system that the customer caneasily view a content based on content data.

[0012] The foregoing object and other objects of this invention havebeen achieved by the provision of a content providing apparatus forproviding compressed content data generated by compressively codingcontent data by a specified compression coding method, by receivingidentification information peculiar to a content obtaining apparatus andspecifying information representing specified content data that thecustomer wants to obtain from the content obtaining apparatus applying aspecified decoding method corresponding to the specified compressioncoding method, by detecting whether or not specified compressed contentdata generated by compressively coding the specified content data by thespecified compression coding method corresponding to the identificationinformation has been stored in the data storing means for storing pluralkinds of compressed content data, according to the above receivedidentification information and the specifying information, and accordingto the detection result, if the specified compressed content data hasbeen stored in the data storing means, by reading the specifiedcompressed content data from the data storing means, or if the specifiedcompressed content data has not been stored in the above data storingmeans, by compressively coding the specified content data being theoriginal data of that specified compressed content data by the specifiedcompression coding method, and generating the specified compressedcontent data, and by transmitting the specified compressed content dataread from the data storing means or the generated specified compressedcontent data to the content obtaining apparatus. Accordingly, every timewhen the customer requests to obtain specified content data from theabove content obtaining apparatus, the content providing apparatus canaccurately provide specified compressed content data generated bycompressively coding that specified content data by a specifiedcompression coding method corresponding to a specified decoding method,without newly applying another decoding method different from aspecified decoding method previously applied to the content obtainingapparatus. Thus, the customer can easily view a content based on thecontent data.

[0013] The nature, principle and utility of this invention will becomemore apparent from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts aredesignated by like reference numerals or characters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In the accompanying drawings:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a conceptual view showing the usage pattern of theInternet by a data providing system;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the usage pattern of aportable dedicated terminal that was rented to the customer;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the usage pattern of aportable dedicated terminal that was sold to the customer;

[0018]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a firstembodiment of a data providing system according to the presentdescription;

[0019]FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a dataproviding system according to a second embodiment;

[0020]FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the data format of headerdata to be added to content data;

[0021]FIGS. 7A and 7B are flowcharts showing a rental reservationprocessing procedure in a data providing system;

[0022]FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a dataproviding system according to a third embodiment;

[0023]FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the data format of contentobtaining request data for obtaining content data from a content server;

[0024]FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a rental reservation processingprocedure in a data providing system;

[0025]FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a dataproviding system according to a fourth embodiment;

[0026]FIGS. 12A and 12B are schematic diagrams showing the configurationof advertiser/company registration information;

[0027]FIGS. 13A and 13B are schematic diagrams showing the configurationof customer registration information;

[0028]FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the contract terms betweenthe customer and an advertiser/company;

[0029]FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration ofcustomer registration information updated on the Internet by thecustomer;

[0030]FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a matchingpart;

[0031]FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration ofadvertiser/company introducing information;

[0032]FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration ofcustomer introducing information;

[0033]FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration ofadvertiser/company information updated by the conclusion of a contract;

[0034]FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration ofcustomer registration information updated by the conclusion of acontract;

[0035]FIGS. 21A and 21B are flowcharts showing an advertiser/companyregistration processing procedure in a data providing system;

[0036]FIGS. 22A and 22B are flowcharts showing an advertiser/companyintroducing processing procedure in a data providing system;

[0037]FIGS. 23A and 23B are flowcharts showing the advertiser/companyintroducing processing procedure in the data providing system;

[0038]FIGS. 24A to 24C are flowcharts showing a contract processingprocedure in the data providing system;

[0039]FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a dataproviding system according to a fifth embodiment;

[0040]FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a matchingpart;

[0041]FIGS. 27A and 27B are flowcharts showing an advertiser/companyintroducing processing procedure in the data providing system;

[0042]FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a dataproviding system according to a sixth embodiment;

[0043]FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration ofcontent selecting screens using three-dimensional virtual reality spacepictures representing the inside of an agency;

[0044]FIGS. 30A and 30B are schematic diagrams for explaining thereproducing of commercial data in a content selecting screen;

[0045]FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration ofcontent selecting screens customized according to a customer's request;

[0046]FIGS. 32A and 32B are flowcharts showing a content providingprocessing procedure using content selecting screen data in the dataproviding system;

[0047]FIGS. 33A and 33B are flowcharts showing the subroutine of thecontent providing processing procedure in the data providing system;

[0048]FIGS. 34A and 34B are flowcharts showing a customizing processingprocedure in the data providing system;

[0049]FIGS. 35A and 35B are flowcharts showing a content providingprocessing procedure using customized screen data in the data providingsystem;

[0050]FIG. 36 is a conceptual view for explaining the customizing of acontent selecting screen according to another embodiment than the sixthembodiment;

[0051]FIG. 37 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method ofproviding content data from a content server to a data providing server;

[0052]FIG. 38 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a dataproviding system according to a seventh embodiment;

[0053]FIG. 39 is a schematic diagram for explaining the rental ofcontent data;

[0054]FIG. 40 is a schematic diagram for explaining the request of anequivalent exchange;

[0055]FIGS. 41A and 41B are conceptual views for explaining equivalentexchanges of the content data of a single tune for packaged media of asingle CD;

[0056]FIG. 42 is a conceptual view for explaining the delivery ofpackaged media by an equivalent exchange;

[0057]FIGS. 43A to 43C are flowcharts showing an equivalent exchangeprocessing procedure in the data providing system;

[0058]FIGS. 44A to 44C are flowcharts showing the equivalent exchangeprocessing procedure in the data providing system;

[0059]FIG. 45 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a dataproviding system according to an eighth embodiment;

[0060]FIG. 46 is a schematic diagram for explaining the request of anequivalent exchange;

[0061]FIGS. 47A to 47C are schematic diagrams showing the configurationof data tables in a packaged media database;

[0062]FIGS. 48A to 48C are conceptual views for explaining equivalentexchanges of plural content data for the packaged media of an album CD;

[0063]FIGS. 49A to 49C are flowcharts showing an equivalent exchangeprocessing procedure in the data providing system;

[0064]FIGS. 50A to 50C are flowcharts showing the equivalent exchangeprocessing procedure in the data providing system;

[0065]FIG. 51 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a dataproviding system according to a ninth embodiment;

[0066]FIG. 52 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of asystem management server;

[0067]FIG. 53 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of arequest terminal;

[0068]FIG. 54 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of adata providing server;

[0069]FIG. 55 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of apackage providing server;

[0070]FIG. 56 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of anadvertiser/company server;

[0071]FIG. 57 is a schematic external view showing the configuration ofa portable dedicated terminal;

[0072]FIG. 58 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration ofthe portable dedicated terminal;

[0073]FIG. 59 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a dataproviding system according to a tenth embodiment;

[0074]FIG. 60 is a schematic external view showing the configuration ofa portable dedicated terminal;

[0075]FIG. 61 is a schematic external view showing the configuration ofthe back of the main body of the terminal;

[0076]FIG. 62 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration ofthe portable dedicated terminal;

[0077]FIG. 63 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a dataproviding system according to an eleventh embodiment;

[0078]FIG. 64 is a schematic diagram for explaining the obtaining ofspecified compressed content data in the data providing server;

[0079]FIG. 65 is a schematic diagram for explaining the providing ofspecified compressed content data in the data providing server;

[0080]FIGS. 66A to 66C are flowcharts showing a content providing andobtaining processing procedure in the data providing system; and

[0081]FIGS. 67A to 67C are flowcharts showing the content providing andobtaining processing procedure in the data providing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

[0082] Preferred embodiments of this invention will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings:

[0083] (1) Usage Pattern of Internet by Data Providing System

[0084] As shown in FIG. 1, in a data providing system 1, communicationcan be performed on the Internet (not shown) between a system managementsite 2 that integrally manages the above data providing system and thecustomer 3, between the system management site 2, plural kinds of shops4A to 4N such as retail stores and rental shops, to that the customer 3comes (hereinafter, these are referred to as agencies), and a salescompany 5 that sells merchandise described later to these agencies 4A to4N, and between the system management site 2 and a site for providingdistribution data 6 established by an advertiser/company (hereinafter,this is referred to as advertiser/company site), respectively.

[0085] In this case, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the agencies 4A to 4Nare rental shops that sell and rent the content (composed of audio data,video data, text data, etc.) of music, a motion picture, game software,a novel, a photograph, a comic, etc., as commercial packaged media suchas a compact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), a compact discread-only memory (CD-ROM), and a book (hardcovered novel, photo book,picture book, comic book). The agencies 4A to 4N are shops that deal incontents such as preparatory schools for selling and renting thecontents (composed of text data, etc.) of reference books, questionbooks, literatures for entrance examination, etc., as commercialpackaged media of books.

[0086] If the agencies 4A to 4N desire to use the Internet in the statewhere they will start new business or already started business and arein business, they notify the system management site 2 of that by the useof a personal computer or the like.

[0087] If the use of the Internet is requested from the agency 4A-4N,the system management site 2 obtains agency information such as a name,a kind of contents that the agency will deal in, and an account numberat a dealing bank from the above agency 4A-4N, and executes agencyregistrations.

[0088] Then, the system management site 2 provides plenty of contentdata to each agency 4A to 4N respectively from among various contentdata of music, motion pictures, game software, novels, photographs,comics, reference books, question books, literatures, etc. that havebeen previously stored in a content database (not shown), according tothe kind of contents specified by the agencies 4A to 4N. The aboveagencies 4A to 4N form a content database for these content datapeculiar to each agency.

[0089] At this time, the sales company 5 sells portable dedicatedterminals 7A to 7N only for recording and reproducing content data, andcommercial packaged media such as CDs, DVDs, CD-ROMs, and books, thatthe above agencies 4A to 4N will deal in, to the agencies 4A to 4Naccording to instructions from the system management site 2.On the otherhand, the customer 3 who wants to use the Internet accesses the abovesystem management site 2 and notifies it of that he/she wants to use theInternet, for instance, by operating a request terminal dedicated to thesystem management site installed in a stand such as KIOSK, a conveniencestore or the like.

[0090] If to use the Internet is wanted by the customer 3, the systemmanagement site 2 obtains personal information (hereinafter, this isreferred to as customer information) such as a name, sex, age, and anaccount number at a dealing bank from the above customer 3, and executesa customer registration. The system management site 2 stores the abovecustomer information as customer registration data, and generates acustomer database 8.

[0091] The agencies 4A to 4N will provide plural kinds of content datato the registered customer 3 by two types of systems: a purchase systemand a rental system. If the customer 3 notifies an agency 4A-4N ofcontent specifying information for specifying desired content data andsystem specifying data representing the way of obtaining for the abovecontent data, purchase or rental, by using the request terminal via thesystem management site 2, the agency 4A-4N accepts the reservation ofthe purchase or the rental of the content data responding to that.

[0092] If the agency 4A-4N accepts the reservation from the customer 3in that manner, the agency 4A-4N executes electronic accounting for thepurchase (selling price) and the rental (rental term) of the contentdata, by using the customer registration information on the customer 3(the account number of the customer 3) read from the customer database 8in the system management site 2. Then, the agency 4A-4N reads thedesired content data according to the request from the content database,and records this in a predetermined recording medium provided in aportable dedicated terminal 7A-7N.

[0093] Here, the agency 4A-4N can make the customer 3 also use theportable dedicated terminal 7A-7N by either system of purchase andrental. If content data is requested, the agencies 4A to 4Nsimultaneously executes electronical accounting for the purchase(selling price) and the rental (rental term) of the above portablededicated terminal 7A-7N by using the customer registration information.

[0094] Therefore, for instance, if the customer 3 requested to use theportable dedicated terminal 7A-7N by rental, the agency 4A-4N rents theportable dedicated terminal 7A-7N storing the content data according tothe request of the customer 3, according to the way of deliveryrequested by the customer 3: by directly handing it to the customer 3 atthe shop or by delivering it by a delivery company 9.

[0095] Thereby, the customer 3 who previously reserved to purchase/rentthe content data and the portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N by therequest terminal can enjoy the content data by reproducing it with theabove portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N as soon as he/she gets theportable dedicated terminal 7A-7N.

[0096] Such portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N can access only the agency4A-4N that recorded the content data via the system management site 2 bya communication function provided inside, and can execute processing forpurchasing/renting content data (including accounting).

[0097] Therefore, when the customer 3 newly requests to purchase/rentcontent data by the portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N in rental, theagency 4A-4N can transmit the requested content data to the portablededicated terminal 7A-7N in rental via the system management site 2, andthe content data can be recorded therein. Thus, content data can beeasily distributed on the Internet also to a customer 3 who does not owna device connectable to the Internet (hereinafter, this is referred toas device for connecting to the Internet) such as a personal computer,similarly to a customer 3 who owns a device for connecting to theInternet.

[0098] By the way, the system management site 2 relays the request forpurchasing/renting the content data sent from the portable dedicatedterminal 7A-7N and the request terminal, to the agency 4A-4N. Thus, thecontents of that request are added to the customer registrationinformation in the customer database 8 as additional customerinformation, and the above customer registration information is updated.Thereby, customer's taste (for example, the genre of content data thatthe customer obtained), the state of the using of the Internet or thelike can be grasped from the customer registration information.

[0099] Furthermore, the system management site 2 obtainsadvertiser/company information composed of advertiser name informationand company name information, business contents information thatrepresents the genre of the above providing distribution data or thelike, from advertisers and companies that will provide variousdistribution data at an advertiser/company site 6, stores this asadvertiser/company registration information and generates anadvertiser/company database 10.

[0100] If the customer 3 sends release permission informationrepresenting that he/she permits to release his/her customer informationto the advertisers and companies from the portable dedicated terminal7A-7N in rental as customer permission data, the system management site2 retrieves data in the advertiser/company database 10 based on his/hercustomer registration information, selects advertisers and companiesthat can provide distribution data matching his/her taste, andintroduces the above selected advertisers and companies to the customer3 via the portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N.

[0101] As a result, if the customer 3 selects an advertiser/companywanting to contract from among the advertisers and the companies thatwere introduced to him/her, the system management site 2 provides a partof his/her customer registration information to the selectedadvertiser/company as investment information, and introduces thecustomer 3 to the advertiser/company.

[0102] Thereby, the system management site 2 can make the customer 3using the Internet and the advertiser/company selected by the abovecustomer 3 mutually negotiate and close contract. If the contract isconcluded, various distribution data such as the advertisement ofmerchandise desired by the above customer 3 is provided from theadvertiser/company site 6 to the portable dedicated terminal 7A-7Nrented to the customer 3 via the system management site 2.

[0103] In this manner, in the data providing system 1, only theadvertiser/company that can provides desired distribution data can beintroduced to the customer 3, and the customer 3 can easily selectdesired one. At the same time, even if the customer 3 does not owndevice for connecting to the Internet, only desired distribution datacan be efficiently provided to him/her via the portable dedicatedterminal 7A-7N being rented to the customer 3.

[0104] In this connection, since if the customer permission data is sentfrom the customer 3, the system management site 2 introduces thecustomer 3 who is beneficial for the advertiser/company to theadvertiser/company, if the system management site 2 transmits theinvestment information to the advertiser/company, the system managementsite 2 receives a consideration for that from the aboveadvertiser/company.

[0105] Furthermore, if the system management site 2 introduces thecustomer 3 to the advertiser/company, it forms a customer introductiondatabase 11 based on the investment information on the above customer 3without regard to the presence/absence of an advertiser and/or a companyto which the customer 3 wants to contract. The above customerintroduction database 11 will be used when advertisers and/or companiesto be introduced to the customer 3 will be newly selected after that.

[0106] Here, if the customer 3 accessed the agency 4A-4N to requestcontent data from the portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N via the systemmanagement site 2, the agency 4A-4N returns a content selecting screento be used to select content data to the portable dedicated terminal7A-7N so that the customer 3 selects desired content data on thatcontent selecting screen.

[0107] The agency 4A-4N customizes the content selecting screen to bedisplayed at the display part of the portable dedicated terminal 7A-7Naccording to a request by the customer 3. Thus, when the customer 3requests content data, a content selecting screen matching the requestby the customer 3 can be displayed at the display part of the portablededicated terminals 7A to 7N.

[0108] In this connection, if the customer 3 specifies his/her favoritecolor on a case body at the time of renting the portable dedicatedterminal 7A-7N, the agency 4A-4N switches the above portable dedicatedterminal 7A-7N to be rented to another portable dedicated terminal 7A-7Npainted in his/her favorite color. In addition to the customizingsoftware, also the hardware of a case body can be customized.

[0109] If the customer 3 requests the agency 4A-4N to customize the casebody of the portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N in rental (that is, tochange the color of the case body), the agency 4A-4N moves all data inthe portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N rented by the customer 3 (that is,the content data, the desired distribution data provided from theadvertiser, etc.) into the other portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N inthe color specified by the customer 3, and changes them.

[0110] By the way, when the agency 4A-4N starts to rent content datawith the portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N to the customer 3, thecustomer 3 can arbitrary choice the rental terms of the above portablededicated terminal 7A-7N and the content data respectively. Moreover,the customer 3 can freely extend the rental term once chosen by arequest.

[0111] The agency 4A-4N monitors the end of the rental term of thecontent data being rented to the customer 3. If the rental term of thecontent data expires before the expiration of the rental term of theportable dedicated terminal 7A-7N, that is informed to the portablededicated terminal 7A-7N being rented to the customer.

[0112] If terminating the rental of the content data according to theperiod is replied from the portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N beingrented to the customer 3 via the system management site 2, the agency4A-4N prompts the customer 3 to bring the portable dedicated terminal7A-7N to the above agency 4A-4N. If the customer 3 brings that portablededicated terminal 7A-7N, the agency 4A-4N erases the content data fromthe internal recording medium and is returns the portable dedicatedterminal 7A-7N to the customer 3.

[0113] On the other hand, if extending the rental term of the contentdata is replied from the portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N being rentedto the customer 3 via the system management site 2, the agency 4A-4Nmonitors the end of that extended rental term of the above content data.

[0114] Although the rental term of the content data has expired, if thecustomer 3 does not bring that portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N, forinstance, the agency 4A-4N sends an erasing command to erase the contentdata that the rental term has expired to the portable dedicated terminal7A-7N for return. Thereby, in the portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N, thespecified content data is erased from the internal recording medium toprevent its illegal use.

[0115] If the portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N in rental is returnedfrom the customer 3, the agency 4A-4N erases the content data from therecording medium in the above portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N, andthat the portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N can be rented again.

[0116] If the customer requests to change the content (for example, thecontent data of a single tune) occupying by purchasing or renting theportable dedicated terminal 7A-7N to packaged media storing the samecontent data (for example, a single CD), the agency 4A-4N transmitsequivalent exchange information composed of a price when the customerobtained the occupying content data (that is, the purchase price or therental price), the selling price of the packaged media, and a differencebetween both these prices to the portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N viathe system management site 2.

[0117] As a result, if the customer 3 notifies the agency 4A-4N of theapproval of exchanging them by the portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N viathe system management site 2, the agency 4A-4N performs electronicalaccounting only for the difference between the price to obtain thecontent data being occupied by the customer 3 and the selling price ofthe packaged media read from the customer database 8 at the systemmanagement site 2. It is because the purchase/rental price for thecontent data being occupied by the customer 3 being the same as thecontent data stored in the packaged media has been already paid. Then,the agency 4A-4N hands the packaged media to the customer 3 at the shopor delivers it by the delivery company 9 from the sales company 5.

[0118] In this manner, the agency 4A-4N makes the exchange value of thecontent data being occupied by the customer for the packaged media to bealmost equal, and exchanges the content data for the above packagedmedia (hereinafter, this exchange is referred to as equivalentexchange). Thereby, wasting the content data purchased/rented by theportable dedicated terminal 7A-7N when that portable dedicated terminal7A-7N is returned can be prevented, and the packaged media can beprovided by a minimum investment without making the customer 3wastefully invest in both of the content data and the packaged media.

[0119] In this connection, the system management site 2 collects chargesfor the use of the Internet from the customer 3 every time when thecustomer 3 uses the Internet (that is, every time when the customer 3purchases/rents content data and the portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N).The system management site 2, however, issues a point to give aprivilege such as a discount to the customer 3 according to the usingstate of the above Internet, and stores it in the customer database 8.

[0120] At the agency 4A-4N, the customer 3 can use the obtaining pointfor electronical accounting instead of a part or all of the payment,when in purchasing/renting content data and a portable dedicatedterminal 7A-7N, and when in exchanging content data for packaged media,etc.

[0121] Furthermore, the agency 4A-4N can accept also payment by cash anda prepaid card at the shop, instead of electronical accounting, when thecustomer 3 purchases/rents a portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N, orexchanges content data for packaged media, or the like.

[0122] Here, if electronical accounting for the purchase of the portablededicated terminal 7A-7N is executed responding to the purchase requestof the portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N by that the customer 3 notifiedfrom the request terminal or the portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N inrental via the system management site 2, the agency 4A-4N directly handsthat portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N to the customer 3 or delivers itto the customer 3 from the sales company 5 by the delivery company 9.

[0123] In this connection, if the customer 3 requests to purchase theportable dedicated terminal 7A-7N, the agency 4A-4N sells the portablededicated terminal 7A-7N having a case body in a color specified by theabove customer 3.

[0124] As shown in FIG. 3, the customer 3 who purchased the portablededicated terminal 7A-7N can purchase/rent desired content data onlyfrom the agency 4A-4N that sold the portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N,by the above portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N via the Internet, and canobtain desired distribution data by contracting to an advertiser and/ora company similarly to the case described above with reference to FIG.2.

[0125] Furthermore, the customer 3 who purchased the portable dedicatedterminal 7A-7N can customize a content selecting screen that will besent from the agency 4A-4N when the customer 3 requests to purchase/rentcontent data by the above portable dedicated terminal 7A-7N. In the casewhere the exchange values of the content data being occupied by thecustomer 3 by the purchase/rental and the packaged media storing thesame content data are equal, they can be exchanged.

[0126] In the above data providing system 1, instead of the portablededicated terminal 7A-7N, the customer 3 can use the Internet by using adevice for connecting to the Internet such as a personal computer,similarly to the case described above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0127] In the data providing system 1, both of a business system usingthe Internet, and an existent business system so that merchandise ispractically sold and/or rented in retailing stores or the, like can becompatibly used. Thereby, a new business model in which the customer 3who does not own a device for connecting to the Internet and agencies 4Ato 4N having the feeling of crisis in the popularization of the Internetcan freely and easily use the Internet for business can be formed.

[0128] (2) First Embodiment

[0129] Referring to FIG. 4, a reference numeral 50 generally shows adata providing system according to a first embodiment. The agencies 4Ato 4N and the sales company 5 described above with reference to FIGS. 1to 3, a request terminal 52 corresponding to the customer 3 describedabove with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 (that is, the request terminal usedby the customer 3) and a portable dedicated terminal 53 only for theagencies 4A to 4N corresponding to the portable dedicated terminals 7Ato 7N described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 are connected to adata providing server 51 corresponding to the system management site 2.

[0130] The data providing server 51 has a customer database 55 forstoring customer registration information and customer registeringscreen data, a content database 56 for storing a lot of content data andcontent selecting screen data or the like, a packaged media database 57for storing a data table by listing the selling prices and the rentalprices of content data, and the selling prices and the titles or thelike of packaged media that can be exchanged for the above content data,and an advertiser/company database 58 for storing advertiser/companyregistration information obtained from advertisers and companiesestablishing an advertiser/company site.

[0131] If registration request data for requesting the registration ofthe customer is sent from the request terminal 52, the data providingserver 51 receives this by a receiving part 59, reads customerregistering screen data from the customer database 55 based on thatregistration request data by an updating part 60, and sends the aboveread customer registering screen data from a sending part 61 to therequest terminal 52.

[0132] If customer information that was entered on a customerregistering screen based on the customer registering screen data is sentfrom the request terminal 52 as customer information data, the dataproviding server 51 receives this by the receiving part 59, and storescustomer information based on that customer information data as customerregistration information by the updating part 60, and registers thecustomer. Thereby, the above customer becomes possible to use theInternet.

[0133] If obtaining request data for requesting to obtain content datais sent from the request terminal 52 by operation by the registeredcustomer, the data providing server 51 receives this by the receivingpart 59, reads content selecting screen data from the content database56 based on that obtaining request data by a content retrieving part 62,and transmits the above read content selecting screen data from thesending part 61 to the request terminal 52.

[0134] As a result, if desired content data is selectively specified onthe content selecting screen based on the content selecting screen data,either of the systems to obtain the content data and the portablededicated terminal 53, purchase or rental is selectively specifiedrespectively, and reservation data for representing these specifiedinformation (hereinafter, this is referred to as customer reservationinformation) is transmitted from the request terminal 52. The dataproviding server 51 receives this by the receiving part 59.

[0135] At this time, the data providing server 51 reads the specifiedcontent data from the content database 56 based on the reservation databy the content retrieving part 62, and transmits the above read contentdata from the sending part 61 to the portable dedicated terminal 53 forrecording before it is delivered to the customer.

[0136] In this manner, the data providing server 51 can prepare thecustomer the portable dedicated terminal 53 storing the content dataaccording to the customer's request for purchase and rental. Thus, theportable dedicated terminal 53 can be sold and rented to the customer bydirectly handing or delivery.

[0137] Then, if obtaining request data for requesting the obtaining ofcontent data is sent from the portable dedicated terminal 53 sold orrented to the customer, the data providing server 51 receives this bythe receiving part 59, reads content selecting screen data from thecontent database 56 based on that obtaining request data by the contentretrieving part 62, and transmits the above read content selectingscreen data from the sending part 61 to the customer.

[0138] As a result, if desired content data is specified on the contentselecting screen based on that content selecting screen data and the wayto obtain the content data, purchase or rental, is specified, andcontent specifying data representing these specified information(hereinafter, this is referred to as specifying information) istransmitted from the portable dedicated terminal 53 sold or rented tothe customer, the data providing server 51 receives this by thereceiving part 59.

[0139] At this time, the data providing server 51 reads the specifiedcontent data from the content database 56 based on that contentspecifying data by the content retrieving part 62, and transmits theabove read content data from the sending part 61 to the customer'sportable dedicated terminal 53 for recording.

[0140] In this manner, the data providing server 51 enables the customerto easily use content distribution on the Internet, and freely obtaindesired content data by the portable dedicated terminal 53.

[0141] By the way, the data providing server 51 issues customeridentification information peculiar to each customer (hereinafter, thisis referred to as customer ID) in a customer registration, adds this tocustomer information, and stores them in the customer database 55 ascustomer registration information to manage the above stored customerregistration information by the customer ID.

[0142] The data providing server 51 transmits the customer ID issued tothe customer in the customer registration from the sending part 61 tothe request terminal 52 and notifies the customer of this. Thereafter,when the customer makes various requests of various agencies by means ofthe request terminal 52 and the portable dedicated terminal 53, the dataproviding server 51 makes the customer use that customer ID to identifythe customer who made a request of these various agencies by thecustomer ID.

[0143] If the data providing server 51 receives various data (e.g.content specifying data) from the request terminal 52 and the portablededicated terminal 53 sold/rented to the customer by the receiving part59, the data providing server 51 sends the contents of that data(information such as the title and the rental term of the content datathat will be purchased/rented by the customer) to the customer database55 as additional customer information to add that additional customerinformation to customer registration information on the customer whorequested the obtaining of the content data, and updates the abovecustomer registration information, by the updating part 60.

[0144] The data providing server 51 can grasp customer's taste or thelike based on the customer registration information in the customerdatabase 55.

[0145] Then, if customer permission data meaning that the customerpermitted the data providing server 51 to release the customerinformation to the advertiser/company is transmitted from the portablededicated terminal 53 sold/rented to the customer, the data providingserver 51 receives this by the receiving part 59, reads the customerregistration information on the customer who permitted from the customerdatabase 55 based on that customer permission data by a matching part63, and retrieves advertiser/company registration information in theadvertiser/company database 58 based on the above read customerregistration information.

[0146] As a result of the retrieval of advertiser/company registrationinformation by the matching part 63, if an advertiser and/or a companythat can provide distribution data matching to the customer's tastes,the data providing server 51 generates advertiser/company introducingdata based on advertiser/company registration information on the aboveselected advertiser/company, and sends this from the sending part 61 tothe customer's portable dedicated terminal 53. Thus, the data providingserver 51 can introduce the advertiser and/or company that can providedistribution data matching to the customer's tastes to the customer.

[0147] In this manner, the data providing server 51 enables the customerto easily select an advertiser and/or a company that can provide desireddistribution data to the customer from among many advertisers and/orcompanies. Moreover, advertisers and companies can efficiently providedistribution data to the customer as requested.

[0148] If customizing request data for customizing the portablededicated terminal 53 purchased/rented to the customer is transmitted,the data providing server 51 receives this by the receiving part 59,reads customizing registering screen data previously stored in thecontent database 56 based on the above received customizing request databy the content retrieving part 62, and sends this from the sending part61 to the portable dedicated terminal 53.

[0149] As a result, if screen customizing information for the contentselecting screen that was entered on a customizing registering screenbased on the customizing registering screen data is sent from theportable dedicated terminal 53 sold/rented to the customer, the dataproviding server 51 receives this by the receiving part 59, and suppliesthat screen customizing information to the customer database 55 to addthis to the customer registration information on the above customer, andupdates that customer registration information by the updating part 60.

[0150] Thereafter, if obtaining request data is sent from the portablededicated terminal 53 by the customer who requested the customizing ofthe content selecting screen, the data providing server 51 receives thisby the receiving part 59, reads the screen customizing information addedto the customer registration information from the customer database 55by the updating part 60, and supplies this to the content retrievingpart 62.

[0151] The data providing server 51 reads content selecting screen datafrom the content database 56 by the content retrieving part 62, convertsthis based on the screen customizing information, and sends thusobtained customized screen data from the sending part 61 to thecustomer's portable dedicated terminal 53.

[0152] In this manner, the data providing server 51 customizes thecontent selecting screen based on the screen customizing data every timewhen obtaining request data is sent from the customer requesting thecustomizing of the content selecting screen by the portable dedicatedterminal 53. The customer can select content data on thus customizedscreen.

[0153] In this connection, in the portable dedicated terminal 53 rentedto the customer, also sending information for customizing the color ofthe case body of the above portable dedicated terminal 53 can beselected on the customizing registering screen. If the case bodycustomizing information for specifying the color of the case body issent from the portable dedicated terminal 53, the data providing server51 receives this by the receiving part 59, supplies this to the customerdatabase 55, and adds this to the customer registration information onthe above customer and updates the customer registration information bythe updating part 60.

[0154] Thus, thereafter, when the customer rents/purchases a portablededicated terminal 53, the portable dedicated terminal 53 in a colorspecified by the case body customizing information can be delivered.

[0155] Furthermore, if equivalent exchange request data for requestingthe equivalent exchange of the content data (e.g. a single tune)purchased/rented for packaged media (e.g. a single CD) is sent from theportable dedicated terminal 53 sold/rented to the customer, the dataproviding server 51 receives this by the receiving part 59.

[0156] The data providing server 51 reads the customer registrationinformation on the customer who requested the equivalent exchange fromthe customer database 55 based on that equivalent exchange request data,and detects the way of the obtaining of the content data that thecustomer requested to equivalently exchange (that is, purchase orrental) by the updating part 60. Then, the data providing server 51retrieves a data table in the packaged media database 57 based on thatequivalent exchange request data and the detected result by the updatingpart 60 by a package retrieving part 64. Thereby, the obtaining price ofthe content data occupied by the customer, and the selling price and thetitle of packaged media storing the above content data are detected asthe target of the equivalent exchange.

[0157] The data providing server 51 computes a balance between thusdetected obtaining price of the content data occupied by the customerand the selling price of the packaged media by the package retrievingpart 64, and transmits the above computed balance from the sending part61 to the customer's portable dedicated terminal 53 as retrieval resultinformation, with these obtaining price of the content data and theselling price and the title of the packaged media.

[0158] The customer has already paid the purchase or the rental price ofthe content data stored in the packaged media by the purchase or therental via the portable dedicated terminal 53. Thus, if exchangeacceptance data to accept the equivalent exchange is sent from theportable dedicated terminal 53 sold/rented to the customer, the dataproviding server 51 electronically performs accounting only for thebalance between the obtaining price of the content data occupied by thecustomer and the selling price of the packaged media. Then, the packagedmedia is delivered to the above customer directly or by delivery.

[0159] In this manner, in the data providing server 51, the exchangevalue of the content data occupied by the customer for the packagedmedia to be exchanged is equal, and they can be equivalently exchanged.Therefore, the data providing server 51 can provide the packaged mediato the customer by exchanging the content data purchased/rented by theportable dedicated terminal 53 for the packaged media by a minimuminvestment.

[0160] In this connection, the data providing server 51 issues a pointto give a privilege such as discount to the customer according to theusing state by a point issuing part not shown, every time when thecustomer uses the Internet by the request terminal 52 and/or theportable dedicated terminal 53. The above issued point is transmitted tothe customer database 55, sequentially added to the customerregistration information, and the above customer registrationinformation is updated by the updating part 60.

[0161] If the customer requests to use the point for equivalent exchangeor the like instead of money, the data providing server 51 balances thedifference between the obtaining price of the content data occupied bythe customer and the selling price of the packaged media by using thepoint issued for the above customer.

[0162] Furthermore, if the customer rents content data, the dataproviding server 51 constantly retrieves customer registrationinformation in the customer database 55 by the updating part 60 todetect whether or not the rental term of the content data in rentalexpires. If the expiration of the rental term of the above content datais near, the data providing server 51 sends confirmation screen data toconfirm whether or not the rental finishes from the sending part 61 tothe customer's portable dedicated terminal 53.

[0163] If a rental finish notification to finish the rental of thecontent data as the term is sent from the portable dedicated terminal 53sold/rented to the customer, the data providing server 51 receives thisby the receiving part 59, adds this to corresponding customerregistration information in the customer database 55 and updates thecustomer registration information by the updating part 60. And the dataproviding server 51 sends coming-to-shop request screen data to promptthe customer to return the content data (that is, to erase the contentdata from the portable dedicated terminal 53) at the agency, from thesending part 61 to the above portable dedicated terminal 53.

[0164] On the contrary, as a result of that the confirmation screen datawas sent to the portable dedicated terminal 53, if a rental extendingnotification to extend the rental term of the content data istransmitted, the data providing server 51 receives this by the receivingpart 59, adds this to the corresponding customer registrationinformation in the customer database 55 and updates the customerregistration information by the updating part 60.

[0165] If although its rental term has expired, the content data has notbeen returned, the data providing server 51 adds erasing information toforcibly erase the content data to the corresponding customerregistration information in the customer database 55 and updates thecustomer registration information by the updating part 60. At the sametime, the data providing server 51 transmits the erasing command of thecontent data of which the rental term expires from the sending part 61to the portable dedicated terminal 53, and erases that content data inthe above portable dedicated terminal 53.

[0166] On the other hand, if the customer enters a customer registrationrequest via an operating part 70, the request terminal 52 generatesregistration request data representing that registration request by arequest data generating part 71, and sends this from a sending part 72to the data providing server 51.

[0167] As a result, if the request terminal 52 receives customerregistering screen data from the data providing server 51 by a receivingpart 73, the request terminal 52 transmits this from a display controlpart 74 to a display part 75, and displays a customer registering screenbased on the customer registering screen data.

[0168] In the request terminal 52, if customer information is entered onthe customer registering screen according to the operation of theoperating part 70 by the customer, the request terminal 52 sends thecustomer information from the sending part 72 to the data providingserver 51 as customer information data via the request data generatingpart 71.

[0169] If a content data obtaining request is entered by the customervia the operating part 70, the request terminal 52 generates obtainingrequest data representing the obtaining request by the request datagenerating part 71, and sends this from the sending part 72 to the dataproviding server 51.

[0170] As a result, if the request terminal 52 receives contentselecting screen data from the data providing server 51 by the receivingpart 73, the request terminal 52 transmits this from the display controlpart 74 to the display part 75, and displays a content selecting screenbased on the content selecting screen data.

[0171] If the customer entered reservation information by customer onthe content selecting screen according to the operation of the operatingpart 70, the request terminal 52 generates reservation data by therequest data generating part 71, and sends this from the sending part 72to the data providing server 51.

[0172] Thereby, the portable dedicated terminal 53 before it issold/rented to the customer receives the content data sent from the dataproviding server 51 by a receiving part 80, and records this in arecording medium 82 by a recording control part 81. Then, the portablededicated terminal 53 will be sold/rented to the customer in this state.

[0173] In the portable dedicated terminal 53 that was actuallysold/rented to the customer, if a reproducing command is entered by thecustomer via an operating part 83, the portable dedicated terminal 53reproduces the content data from the recording medium 82 based on thatreproducing command by a reproducing control part 84, and transmits theabove reproduced content data to a reproducing part 85 composed of adisplay control part, a display part, a speaker or the like. Thus, thecustomer can enjoy the content.

[0174] If a content data obtaining request is entered by the customervia the operating part 83, the portable dedicated terminal 53 generatesobtaining request data representing that obtaining request by a requestdata generating part 86, and sends the above generated obtaining requestdata from a sending part 87 to the data providing server 51.

[0175] As a result, if the portable dedicated terminal 53 receivescontent selecting screen data from the data providing server 51 by thereceiving part 80, the portable dedicated terminal 53 transmits this tothe reproducing part 85 to display a content selecting screen based onthe content selecting screen data.

[0176] Then, if content data is selectively specified (including thespecifying of purchase and/or rental) on the content selecting screenaccording to the operation of the operating part 83 by the customer, theportable dedicated terminal 53 generates content specifying data by therequest data generating part 86, and transmits this from the sendingpart 87 to the data providing server 51.

[0177] If the portable dedicated terminal 53 receives the content datafrom the data providing server 51 by the receiving part 80, the portablededicated terminal 53 records this in the recording medium 82 by therecording control part 81. Thus, thereafter, that content data can bereproduced from the recording medium 82 by a reproducing control part 84according to the operation of the operating part 83 by the customer.

[0178] Furthermore, if the customer permits the release of the customerinformation via the operating part 83, the portable dedicated terminal53 generates customer permission data representing that permission bythe request data generating part 86, and sends this from the sendingpart 87 to the data providing server 51.

[0179] As a result, if the portable dedicated terminal 53 receivesadvertiser/company introducing data from the data providing server 51 bythe receiving part 80, the portable dedicated terminal 53 transmits thisto the reproducing part 85 to displaying it. In this state, the customerselects desired advertiser and/or company by operating the operatingpart 83.

[0180] Then, the portable dedicated terminal 53 sends information on theadvertiser and/or company selected by the customer to the data providingserver 51 sequentially via the request data generating part 86 and thesending part 87. As a result, if the customer concludes a contract tothe advertiser and/or company that he/she selected, the portablededicated terminal 53 receives desired distribution data such asadvertisement sent from the advertiser and company site by the receivingpart 80, and records this in the recording medium 82 by the recordingcontrol part 81.

[0181] The portable dedicated terminal 53 reproduces that distributiondata from the recording medium 82 by the reproducing control part 84according to the operation of the operating part 83 by the customer, andtransmits the above reproduced distribution data to the reproducing part85. Thus, the customer can enjoy the distribution data provided from theadvertiser and company site.

[0182] In addition to this, if the customer enters a customizing requestvia the operating part 83, the portable dedicated terminal 53 generatescustomizing request data representing that customizing request by therequest data generating part 86, and sends this from the sending part 87to the data providing server 51.

[0183] As a result, if the portable dedicated terminal 53 receivescustomizing registering screen data from the data providing server 51 bythe receiving part 80, the portable dedicated terminal 53 transmits thisto the reproducing part 85 to display a customizing registering screenbased on that customizing registering screen data.

[0184] If screen customizing information for customizing the contentselecting screen is entered on the customizing registering screenaccording to the operation of the operating part 83 by the customer, theportable dedicated terminal 53 sends this to the data providing server51 sequentially via the request data generating part 86 and the sendingpart 87.

[0185] The customer can enter also case-body customizing information forcustomizing the color of the case body of the portable dedicatedterminal 53 on the customizing registering screen by operating theoperating part 83. If the case-body customizing information is entered,the portable dedicated terminal 53 sends this from the sending part 87to the data providing server 51 via the request data generating part 86.

[0186] In this manner, the customer can request the data providingserver 51 to customize the content selecting screen and the case body ofthe portable dedicated terminal 53. Therefore, after the customerrequested such customizing, the customer can selectively specify contentdata while viewing the display of the customized selecting screen thatwas obtained by processing the content selecting screen based on thescreen customizing information, and also the customer can switch theportable dedicated terminal 53 to a portable dedicated terminal 53 in acolor that the customer specified.

[0187] Furthermore, in the portable dedicated terminal 53, if thecustomer enters an equivalent exchange request via the operating part83, the portable dedicated terminal 53 generates equivalent exchangerequest data representing that equivalent exchange request by therequest data generating part 86, and sends this from the sending part 87to the data providing server 51.

[0188] As a result, if retrieval result information on the equivalentexchange is sent from the data providing server 51, the portablededicated terminal 53 receives this by the receiving part 80, andtransmits this to the reproducing part 85 to display the obtaining priceof the content data that the customer occupies by purchase or rental,the selling price and the title of packaged media, and the differencebetween these prices based on that retrieval result information.

[0189] If the customer approves the equivalent exchange via theoperating part 83, the portable dedicated terminal 53 generates exchangeapproval data representing the approval by the request data generatingpart 86, and sends this from the sending part 87 to the data providingserver 51. Then, electronical accounting for the difference between theobtaining price of the content data that the customer occupies and theselling price of the packaged media is performed by a method that thecustomer specified (that is, payment by money or points). Therefore, thecustomer can obtain the packaged media by a minimum investment.

[0190] In this connection, if confirmation screen data for content datathat the rental term is near expiration is sent from the data providingserver 51, the portable dedicated terminal 53 receives this by thereceiving part 80, and transmits this to the reproducing part 85 todisplay a confirmation screen based on that confirmation screen data,and notifying the customer of that the rental term of the content datawill expire by the above confirmation screen.

[0191] Then, at this time, if terminating or extending the rental termis specified by the customer via the operating part 83, the portablededicated terminal 53 notifies the data providing server 51 of that fromthe sending part 87 via the request data generating part 86.

[0192] Furthermore, if the rental term of the content data has expiredbefore the content data is returned, an erasing command to erase thecontent data is sent from the data providing server 51 to the portablededicated terminal 53. The portable dedicated terminal 53 receives thisby the receiving part 80, and erases the content data of which therental term has expired from the recording medium 82 based on thaterasing command by the recording control part. Thus, illegal use(reproducing) of the content data can be prevented.

[0193] According to the above configuration, in this data providingsystem 50, the data providing server 51 records content data specifiedby the customer in a portable dedicated terminal 53 only for an agencythat the customer specified according to reservation data sent from arequest terminal 52 by customer's operation, and they are sold/rented tothe customer.

[0194] Then, if the customer sends content specifying data from theportable dedicated terminal 53, the data providing server 51 readscontent data from the content database 56 according to the contentspecifying data, and sends the above read content data to that portablededicated terminal 53 for recording.

[0195] Furthermore, in the data providing server 51, customerregistration information on the customer who purchased or is renting theportable dedicated terminal 53 is registered in the customer database55. The customer registration information is updated according to theusing state of the portable dedicated terminal 53 every time when thecustomer uses the portable dedicated terminal 53 for purchasing orrenting content data. If the release of the customer information ispermitted from the customer by the portable dedicated terminal 53, thedata providing server 51 retrieves advertiser/company registrationinformation in the advertiser/company database 58 based on the customerregistration information, selects an advertiser and/or a company thatcan provide distribution data matching to the customer's tastes, andintroduces it to the customer.

[0196] If customizing a content selecting screen is requested from thecustomer by the portable dedicated terminal 53, the data providingserver 51 customizes the content selecting screen according to thatrequest, and provides a customized screen obtained by customizing theabove content selecting screen to the customer's portable dedicatedterminal 53 so that the customer can select content data on thecustomized screen.

[0197] In addition to this, if the equivalent exchange of thepurchased/rented content data for packaged media is requested from thecustomer by the portable dedicated terminal 53, the data providingserver 51 provides the packaged media to the customer by the payment ofthe difference between the obtaining price of the content data occupiedby the customer and the selling price of the packaged media.

[0198] Accordingly, in this data providing system 50, even if thecustomer does not have a device for accessing the Internet, bypreviously reserving the purchase or the rental of a portable dedicatedterminal 53 that can record and reproduce content data by a requestterminal 52 installed in a KIOSK or the like, the customer can obtaincontent data distributed to the portable dedicated terminal 53 after thecustomer received the reserved portable dedicated terminal 53.

[0199] In this data providing system 50, by using the portable dedicatedterminal 53, the customer can easily select content data on a customizedscreen that was customized by a customer's request, and also thecustomer can exchange the content data obtained by distribution forpackaged media storing the same content data by a minimum investment.Furthermore, the customer can easily select an advertiser and/or acompany that can provide distribution data matching to customer's tastesfrom many advertiser and company sites, and can use distribution data.

[0200] As a result, in the data providing system 50, also a customer whodoes not have a device for accessing the Internet can easily use thissystem while sufficiently enjoying the convenience of the Internet.

[0201] In this data providing system 50, the customer uses the portablededicated terminal 53 only for an agency by purchase and/or rental.Therefore, agencies can easily get customers who use not only theInternet but also the agencies, and also can easily use and canparticipate in the Internet.

[0202] According to the above configuration, in the data providingserver 51, the portable dedicated terminal 53 only for an agency thatcan record and reproduce content data is sold or rented to the customeraccording to reservation data sent from the request terminal 52. Contentdata is distributed according to content specifying data sent from thesold/rented portable dedicated terminal 53, and is recorded in theportable dedicated terminal 53. An advertiser and/or a company isselected based on customer registration information according tocustomer's permission sent from that portable dedicated terminal 53, andis introduced to the customer. A content selecting screen is customizedaccording to a customizing request sent from the above portablededicated terminal 53, and is provided to the portable dedicatedterminal 53. And the exchange values of the content data occupied by thecustomer by distribution and packaged media storing the same contentdata are equal, and they are equivalently exchanged according to anequivalent exchange request sent from the portable dedicated terminal53. Thereby, a customer who does not have a device for accessing theInternet can easily use this system while sufficiently enjoying theconvenience of the Internet. By the portable dedicated terminal 53 onlyfor an agency that uses the Internet, this system can easily getcustomers. Thus, a data providing system that can further popularize theInternet can be accomplished.

[0203] Note that, in the aforementioned first embodiment, it has dealtwith the case where the customer requests a customer registration andthe purchase or the rental of the portable dedicated terminal 53 by therequest terminal 52. However, this invention is not only limited to thisbut also the customer may request the customer registration and thepurchase or the rental of the portable dedicated terminal 53 by a devicefor accessing the Internet such as a personal computer. Thereby, inaddition to a customer who does not have a device for accessing theInternet, a customer who owns the above device can enjoy the convenienceof the Internet more than the present by using the portable dedicatedterminal 53.

[0204] (3) Second Embodiment

[0205]FIG. 5 shows a data providing system 100 according to a secondembodiment. A portable dedicated terminal 102 similar to the portablededicated terminals 7A to 7N described above with reference to FIGS. 1to 3 is directly connected to a data providing server 101 thatcorresponds to the system management site 2 and the agencies 4A to 4Ndescribed above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. A request terminal 103that corresponds to the customer 3 described above with reference toFIGS. 1 to 3 (that is, the request terminal that the customer 3 had beenused) and a settlement processing server 104 are connected to the abovedata providing server 101 on the Internet 105, respectively.

[0206] The data providing server 101 has a customer database 110 and acontent database 111. In the customer database 110, customerregistration information generated by executing a customer registrationsimilar to the customer registration described above with reference toFIGS. 1 to 4 (composed of a customer's name, a customer ID, an accountnumber in a bank that the customer deals with, etc.) will be stored.

[0207] Furthermore, the data providing server 101 stores a lot ofcontent data in the content database 111, and also a data tablegenerated by listing content additional information composed of contentidentification information peculiar to each of the content data(hereinafter, this is referred to as content ID), a title (for example,the title of tune), prices (selling price and rental price), etc.

[0208] If customer reservation information to reserve content data byrental (hereinafter, specially this is referred to as rental reservationrequest data) is sent as reservation request data, from the requestterminal 103 via the Internet 105 by operation by the customer who wantsto rent the content data, the data providing server 101 receives this bya receiving part 115, converts the above received rental reservationrequest data into recording control data by an accounting part 116, andtransmits this to a recording control part 117.

[0209] Here, the data providing server 101 generates rental reservationacceptance data including dedicated terminal identification information(hereinafter, this is referred to as dedicated terminal ID) peculiar tothe portable dedicated terminal 102 for recording the content data thatthe customer requested to rent by the recording control part 117, andtransmits this to the request terminal 103 from a sending part 118 viathe Internet 105 to notify the customer of that the rental reservationof the desired content data has been accepted.

[0210] The data providing server 101 reads the content data that thecustomer requested to rent from the content database 111 according tothe recording control data by the recording control part 117, and sendsthis to the portable dedicated terminal 102 having the dedicatedterminal ID that notified to the customer, so that the content data isrecorded in a recording medium in the portable dedicated terminal 102.

[0211] In this manner, the data providing server 101 makes the portablededicated terminal 102 having a content data recording and reproducingfunction record the content data requested from the customer. Then, whenthe customer came to, for example, an agency installing the above dataproviding server 101, the content data that the customer requested torent is handed to the customer with the portable dedicated terminal 102.

[0212] By the data providing server 101, content data can be rented tothe customer with the portable dedicated terminal 102 according to arental term. The customer can enjoy the content data by reproducing thisby the portable dedicated terminal 102.

[0213] By the way, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, rental reservation requestdata D2 sent from the request terminal 103 has information such as acustomer's name, a customer ID, a password, the title of content data D1of which the rental is requested, a rental term, a paying method ofrental charges (payment by cash or prepaid card at shop, payment byprepaid card by request terminal, payment by credit).

[0214] If the data providing server 101 receives the rental reservationrequest data D2 from the request terminal 103 by the receiving part 115,the data providing server 101 extracts information on the paying methodof the rental charge (hereinafter, this is referred to as payment data)from the rental reservation request data D2 by the accounting part 116.

[0215] If payment specified by the payment information is credit, thedata providing server 101 reads the customer registration information onthe customer who requested to rent the content data D1 from the contentdatabase 111 based on the customer ID included in the rental reservationrequest data D2 by the accounting part 116, retrieves a data table inthe content database 111 based on the title of the content data D1included in the above rental reservation request data D2, and reads theadditional information on the content data D1 that the customer isrequesting to rent.

[0216] The data providing server 101 executes accounting by theaccounting part 116, based on the rental charge for the portablededicated terminal 102 and an account number in the dealing bank of theagency previously stored in the contents database 111, the rentalreservation request data D2, the customer registration information, andthe additional information on the content data D1. Thereby, the dataproviding server 101 generates accounting information representing theamount of charge according to the rental term of the content data D1 tothe customer, the account numbers of the agency and the customer, etc.,and sends this from the sending part 118 to the settlement processingserver 104 via the Internet 105.

[0217] If the electronical settlement processing based on the accountinginformation is completed and a settlement completion notification issent from the settlement processing server 104, the data providingserver 101 receives this by the receiving part 115, recognizes this andadds the agency ID to the rental reservation request data D2 andgenerates recording control data D3 by the accounting part 116, andsends this to the recording control part 117.

[0218] In this connection, when in generating the recording control dataD3 by the accounting part 116, the data providing server 101 changes thecustomer's name included in the rental reservation request data D2 to acoded customer's name registered as the customer registrationinformation, changes the title of the content data D1 to the content ID,encodes the number of days of the rental term, and adds the customer'saccount number to the recording control data D3.

[0219] If the data providing server 101 transmits the recording controldata D3 from the accounting part 116 to the recording control part 117,the data providing server 101 generates rental reservation acceptancedata by the above recording control part 117, and sends this from thesending part 118 to the request terminal 103.

[0220] Then, the data providing server 101 generates header data D4based on the recording control data D3 by adding the dedicated terminalID of the portable dedicated terminal 102 storing the content data D1that the customer requested to rent, and copy history informationshowing a copy history when the above content data D1 had illegallycopied, to the above recording control data D3 as the content by therecording control part 117. The data providing server 101 adds this tothe content data D1 that the customer requested to rent, and they arerecorded in the portable dedicated terminal 102.

[0221] Thereby, in the data providing server 101, that the portablededicated terminal 102 rented to the customer and the content data D1were rented at the shop installing the data providing server 101 can beeasily recognized by the header data D4.

[0222] Furthermore, the portable dedicated terminal 102 rented to thecustomer monitors whether or not the rental term of the content data D1has expired according to information on the rental term stored in theheader data D4. In the case where although the rental term has passed,the above content data D1 has not been returned (that is, in the casewhere the content data D1 was not returned with the portable dedicatedterminal 102), the portable dedicated terminal 102 forbids reproducingthe content data D1. Thus, the illegal use of the rented content data D1can be prevented after the expiration of the rental term.

[0223] Furthermore, if the content data D1 in rental is illegally copiedwhile it has been rented to the customer, the portable dedicatedterminal 102 records the number of the times of copy as copy historyinformation in the header data D4. Thereby, when the portable dedicatedterminal 102 is returned to the agency, the agency can know that thecustomer illegally copied the content data D1 from the copy historyinformation in the header data D4.

[0224] On the other hand, if payment by a prepaid card by the requestterminal 103 is specified by the rental reservation request data D2 fromthe request terminal 103, the data providing server 101 executesaccounting according to the rental charges for the portable dedicatedterminal 102, the rental reservation request data D2, and the additionalinformation on the content data D1, by the accounting part 116. The dataproviding server 101 computes the amount of charges to the customeraccording to the rental term of the content data D1, and sendsinformation on the above computed amount of charges as accounting datafrom the sending part 118 to the request terminal 103 via the Internet105.

[0225] If the data providing server 101 receives payment-by-prepaidcompletion data from the request terminal 103 by the receiving part 115by that the payment by a prepaid card has completed based on theaccounting data, the data providing server 101 generates recordingcontrol data D3 by adding the agency ID to the rental reservationrequest data D2 storing information representing that the payment by theprepaid card has completed by the request terminal 103, instead of thecustomer's account number by an accounting part 116, and transmits thisto the recording control part 117.

[0226] Then, if the data providing server 101 transmits the recordingcontrol data D3 from the accounting part 116 to the recording controlpart 117, the data providing server 101 sends rental reservationacceptance data from the sending part 118 to the request terminal 103 bythe recording control part 117 similarly to the above. At the same time,the data providing server 101 generates header data D4 based on thatrecording control data D3, and records this in the portable dedicatedterminal 102 with the content data D1.

[0227] Furthermore, if payment by cash or a prepaid card at the shop isspecified by the rental reservation request data D2 sent from therequest terminal 103, the data providing server 101 generates recordingcontrol data D3 by adding the agency ID to the rental reservationrequest data D2 storing information representing that the payment bycash or a prepaid card at the shop has completed instead of thecustomer's account number by the accounting part 116, and sends this tothe recording control part 117.

[0228] Also in this case, the data providing server 101 transmits therecording control data D3 from the accounting part 116 to the recordingcontrol part 117 similarly to the above, and sends rental reservationacceptance data from the sending part 118 to the request terminal 103 bythe above recording control part 117. At the same time, the dataproviding server 101 generates header data D4 based on the recordingcontrol data D3, and records this in the portable dedicated terminal 102with the content data D1.

[0229] In this connection, in the data providing server 101, a slot fora prepaid card is provided on the accounting part 116. When the paymentby a prepaid card at the shop is specified, an amount of charge to thecustomer according to the rental term of the content data D1 is computedby the accounting part 116. And if the customer inserts his/her prepaidcard into the slot when the customer came to receive the portablededicated terminal 102, the rental charges is settled by the prepaidcard.

[0230] Note that, the above data providing server 101 also can be usedin the case where the customer came to the shop and requested to rentcontent data D1. In this case, a clerk in the shop inputs rentalinformation having the same contents as the rental reservation requestdata D2 described above with reference to FIG. 6 via an operationalinformation input part. The above entered rental information istransmitted to the accounting part 116. Thereby, the content data D1 isrecorded in the portable dedicated terminal 102 similarly to theaforementioned rental reservation by the request terminal 103.

[0231] On the other hand, if the customer inputs rental reservationinformation having the same contents as the aforementioned rentalreservation request data D2 via an operational information input part120, the request terminal 103 (FIG. 5) generates the aforementionedrental reservation request data D2 based on that rental reservation databy a request data generating part 122 via an operational informationdiscriminating part 121, and sends this from a sending part 123 to thedata providing server 101 on the Internet 105.

[0232] If rental reservation acceptance data is sent from the dataproviding server 101 via the Internet 105, the request terminal 103receives this by a receiving part 124, and transmits this from adiscriminating part 125 to a display part 126. Thus, completion of theacceptance of the rental reservation of the desired content datarequested by the customer is notified to the customer, with thededicated terminal ID of the portable dedicated terminal 102 that willbe rented with the above content data D1.

[0233] In this connection, in the request terminal 103, an accountingpart 127 having a slot for a prepaid card is provided. If payment by aprepaid card by the request terminal 103 is specified by the customervia the operational information input part 120, the operationalinformation discriminating part 121 discriminates this and notifies theaccounting part 127 of this.

[0234] The request terminal 103 receives account data transmitted bysending the rental reservation request data D2 to the data providingserver 101 by the receiving part 124, discriminates this by thediscriminating part 125, and transmits this to the accounting part 127.

[0235] If a customer's prepaid card is inserted into the slot of theaccounting part 127, the request terminal 103 settles the rental chargesto the customer by the prepaid card based on the account data by theaccounting part 127. And then, the request terminal 103 generatespayment-by-prepaid completion data, and sends this from the sending part123 to the data providing server 101 via the Internet 105.

[0236] Here, a rental reservation processing procedure by the dataproviding server 101 and the request terminal 103 in the data providingsystem 100 will be described except for payment for rental charges (thatis, accounting). As shown in FIG. 7A, the request terminal 103 entersroutine RT1 from the start step and proceeds to step SP1.

[0237] In step SP1, the request terminal 103 awaits that the customerinputs rental reservation information via the operational informationinput part 120. If rental reservation information is inputted, therequest terminal 103 proceeds to the next step SP2 to generate rentalreservation request data D2 by the request data generating part 122,sends this from the sending part 123 to the data providing server 101via the Internet 105, and proceeds to step SP3.

[0238] At this time, as shown in FIG. 7B, the data providing server 101enters routine RT2 from the start step and proceeds to the next stepSP11. In step SP11, the data providing server 101 awaits that the rentalreservation request data D2 is transmitted from the request terminal103. It the data providing server 101 receives the rental reservationrequest data D2 from the request terminal 103 by a receiving part 119,it proceeds to step SP12.

[0239] In step SP12, the data providing server 101 generates recordingcontrol data D3 by the accounting part 116 by means of the rentalreservation request data D2, and proceeds to the next step SP13.

[0240] In step SP13, the data providing server 101 generates rentalreservation acceptance data and sends this from the sending part 118 tothe request terminal 103, on the Internet 105, and it proceeds to stepSP14.

[0241] At this time, in step SP3, the request terminal 103 awaits thatthe rental reservation acceptance data is transmitted from the dataproviding server 101. If the request terminal 103 receives the rentalreservation acceptance data from the data providing server 101 in stepSP3, the request terminal 103 proceeds to the next step SP4.

[0242] In step SP4, the request terminal 103 transmits that rentalreservation acceptance data to the display part 126 to display itthereon, and notifies the customer of completion of the acceptance ofthe rental reservation of the content data D1 with the dedicatedterminal ID of the portable dedicated terminal 102 that will be rentedwith the above content data D1, and it proceeds to the next step SP5 tofinish the processing in the above request terminal 103.

[0243] On the other hand, in step SP14, the data providing server 101generates header data D4 based on the recording control data D3, andproceeds to step SP15. In step SP15, the data providing server 101 addsthe header data D4 to the content data D1 requested by the customer, andrecords this in a recording medium in the portable dedicated terminal102 by the recording control part 117. Then, the data providing server101 proceeds to step SP16 to finish the processing in the above dataproviding server 101. In this manner, the data providing system 100finishes the rental reservation processing for the content data D1.

[0244] According to the above configuration, in this data providingsystem 100, a lot of content data D1 have been stored in the contentdatabase 111 in the data providing server 101 installed at an agency. Ifthe customer requests the rental reservation of desired content data D1with the request terminal 103, the above data providing server 101records that content data D1 in the portable dedicated terminal 102. Andthen, when the customer came to the agency, the reserved content data D1is rented to the customer with the portable dedicated terminal 102.

[0245] Accordingly, even if the customer does not own a device that hasfunctions to record and reproduce content data D1 and can obtain thecontent data D1 by connecting to the Internet, such as a personalcomputer (hereinafter, this is referred to as content obtainingapparatus), this data providing system 100 can easily provide a contentto the customer as data by the portable dedicated terminal 102 rented atthe agency.

[0246] Furthermore, in the data providing system 100, when the customerrents content data D1, the customer can previously reserve the rental ofthe desired content data D1 for the data providing server 101 by therequest terminal 103. Therefore, when the customer came to the agencywithout making the customer wait during the recording of the contentdata D1 in the portable dedicated terminal 102, the agency can smoothlyhand the portable dedicated terminal 102 storing the content data D1 tothe customer.

[0247] Moreover, in this data providing system 100, also when thecustomer reserves the rental of the content data D1 by operating therequest terminal 103, the above customer is notified of the acceptanceof the rental reservation at a time point that the recording controldata D3 to record the content data D1 in the portable dedicated terminal102 has been generated. Therefore, the customer can make a reservationfor the rental of the content data D1 without waiting in front of theportable dedicated terminal 102 while the content data D1 is beingrecorded in the portable dedicated terminal 102.

[0248] In this connection, that when in using the distribution ofcontent data D1 on the Internet 105, it has been already described.However, also knowledge of the Internet 105 is necessary. Therefore,sometimes, a person who does not have knowledge of the Internet 105 ishard to easily receive the distribution of the content data D1.

[0249] To obviate this, if the customer uses the data providing system100 according to the second embodiment, although the customer uses theInternet 105 when in reserving the rental of the content data D1, thecustomer can reserve the rental of the content data D1 only by directlyaccessing to a data providing server 101 by the request terminal 103 bya simple operation. Therefore, in addition to the customer who does notown a content obtaining device, the customer who does not have knowledgeof the Internet 105 can easily obtain content data.

[0250] According to the above configuration, the customer reserves therental of desired content data D1 for the data providing server 101having the content database 111 storing a lot of content data D1 bymeans of the request terminal 103. That requested content data D1 isrecorded in the portable dedicated terminal 102 by the above dataproviding server 101, and the portable dedicated terminal 102 is rentedto the customer with the above content data D1. Thereby, the contentdata can be further easily provided to the customer who does not own acontent obtaining device. Thus, a data providing system in that theusability can be remarkably improved can be realized.

[0251] Note that, in the aforementioned second embodiment, it has dealtwith the case where the portable dedicated terminal 102 dedicated to theagency is rented with content data D1. However, this invention is notonly limited to this but also the portable dedicated terminal 102 may besold to the customer and the content data D1 may be recorded in theabove portable dedicated terminal 102 for purchase or rental. Thereby,even if the customer requests further purchase of content data D1, thecontent data D1 similarly purchased can be recorded and stored in theportable dedicated terminal 102 that the customer purchased. Thus, theusability of the data providing system 100 can be further improved.

[0252] In the aforementioned second embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where content data D1 that the customer requested to rent isrecorded in the portable dedicated terminal 102 dedicated to the agency.However, this invention is not only limited to this but also contentdata D1 that the customer requested to rent or purchase may be recordedin a portable recording and reproducing device such as a portabletelephone, and a portable Mini Disc ((MD) trademark by Sony Corp.)player, that the customer brought into an agency. Thereby, also acustomer who owns a content obtaining apparatus can easily use the dataproviding system, and the versatility of the above data providing systemcan be improved.

[0253] Furthermore, in the aforementioned second embodiment, it hasdealt with the case where content data is recorded in the portablededicated terminal 102 at an agency according to reservation data bycustomer from the request terminal 103. However, this invention is notonly limited to this but also for instance content data may be recordedusing the Internet or the like, in the state where the portablededicated terminal 102 is in a manufacture company or a sales company orthe like. Thereby, even if the portable dedicated terminal 102 isdirectly handed to the customer from a factory or the like, the contentdata can be accurately rented.

[0254] (4) Third Embodiment

[0255]FIG. 8 in which the same reference numerals are added tocorresponding parts in FIG. 5 shows a data providing system 150according to a third embodiment. The data providing system 150 is formedsimilarly to the data providing system 100 according to the secondembodiment except for the configuration of a data providing server 151corresponding to the system management site 2 and the agencies 4A to 4Ndescribed above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and the configurationthat a content server 152 corresponding to the system management site 2described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 is connected to the abovedata providing server 151 via the Internet 105.

[0256] In this case, in the content server 152, a content database 154storing many content data D1 more than the content data D1 stored in acontent database 153 in the data providing server 151, and a data tablegenerated by listing the additional information on the above contentdata D1 (composed of content ID, title, selling price, rental price,etc.) is provided.

[0257] In the content database 153 stored in the data providing server151, a part of many content data D1 stored in the content database 154in the content server 152, and a new data table generated by making acorrespondence, information representing the content data D1 stored inthe data providing server 151 with the data table stored in the abovecontent database 154 in the content server 152, are stored.

[0258] Furthermore, in the data providing server 151, a receiving datajudging part 155 for judging the type of data received by the receivingpart 115 is provided. If the receiving part 115 receives rentalreservation request data D2 from the request terminal 103 on theInternet 105, the data providing server 151 transmits this from thereceiving data judging part 155 to an accounting part 156.

[0259] The data providing server 151 retrieves a data table in thecontent database 153 based on that rental reservation request data D2 bythe accounting part 156, and judges whether or not content data D1requested to rent by the customer has been stored in the contentdatabase 153.

[0260] If that the content data D1 has been stored in the contentdatabase 153 is confirmed by the accounting part 156, the data providingserver 151 successively transmits recording control data D3 to arecording control part 157 from the accounting part 156.

[0261] Thereby, the data providing server 151 sends rental reservationacceptance data from the sending part 118 to the request terminal 103 bythe recording control part 157. At the same time, the data providingserver 151 generates header data D4 based on that recording control dataD3 and records this in the portable dedicated terminal 102 with thecontent data D1.

[0262] On the contrary, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, if that the contentdata D1 requested by the customer has not been stored in the contentdatabase 153 is confirmed by the accounting part 156, the data providingserver 151 generates recording control data D3 by using the rentalreservation request data D2 similarly to the accounting part 116 of thedata providing server 101 (FIG. 5) according to the second embodimentdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 (it also executesaccounting) by the accounting part 156. Although, the data providingserver 151 transmits the recording control data D3 from the sending part118 to the content server 152 via the Internet 105 as content obtainingrequest data.

[0263] As a result, if the requested content data D1 is sent from thecontent server 152 via the Internet 105 with the content obtainingrequest data, the data providing server 151 receives them by thereceiving part 115, takes them in the receiving data judging part 155,and transmits them to the recording control part 157.

[0264] The data providing server 151 generates header data D4 by addingthe information on the dedicated terminal ID and copy history to thecontent obtaining request data (i.e., recording control data D3) by therecording control part 157, and records the above generated header dataD4 in the portable dedicated terminal 102 with the content data D1obtained from the content server 152.

[0265] In this manner, even if the rental of the content data D1 thathas not been stored in the content database 153 is requested, the dataproviding server 151 can rent the content data D1 to the customer byobtaining this from the content server 152.

[0266] In this connection, when the data providing server 151 obtainsthe content data D1 from the content server 152, it takes a time forprocessing for accepting the rental reservation comparing to the casewhere the content data D1 requested by the customer has been stored inthe content database 153 of the data providing server 151.

[0267] To obviate this, the data providing server 151 generates rentalreservation acceptance data by the receiving data judging part 155 andsends this to the portable dedicated terminal 102, and informs thecustomer of the acceptance of the rental reservation to at the timepoint that the content data D1 had obtained from the content server 152.

[0268] Furthermore, when the customer came to an agency and requested torent content data D1, a clerk of the agency inputs rental informationhaving the same contents as the entered rental reservation request dataD2 via an operational information input part 119. The data providingserver 151 transmits this from the operational information judging part158 to the accounting part 156. Thus, the content data D1 is recorded inthe portable dedicated terminal 102 similarly to the aforementionedrental reservation by means of the request terminal 103.

[0269] If content information including a content ID to newly store thecontent data D1 is entered to the content database 153 via theoperational information input part 119, the data providing server 151transmits this from the operational information judging part 158 to arequest data generating part 159 to generate content request dataaccording to the content information, and sends this from the sendingpart 118 to the content server 152 via the Internet 105.

[0270] If the desired content data D1 and its additional information aresent from the content server 152, the data providing server 151 receivesthis by the receiving part 115, and transmits them from the receivingdata judging part 155 to the recording control part 157 to store them inthe content database 153 by the above recording control part 157.

[0271] Thereby, though it comparatively takes a time to obtain thecontent data D1 from the content server 152, if content data for exampleof which the rental request is comparatively many among the content dataD1 not stored in the content database 153, it is previously obtainedfrom the content server 152 and has been stored in the content database153. Thus, the data providing server 151 can rapidly respond to therental request by the customer.

[0272] On the other hand, if the content obtaining request data is sentfrom the data providing server 151 via the Internet 105, the contentserver 152 (FIG. 8) receives this by a receiving part 160, extracts thecontent ID from that content obtaining request data by a content IDextracting part 161, and transmits this to a content retrieving part 162as well as transmitting the above content obtaining request data to asending data generating part 164.

[0273] The content server 152 retrieves data in the content database 154based on that content ID by the content retrieval part 162, reads thecorresponding content data D1, and transmits this to the sending datagenerating part 164. At the same time, the content server 152 adds thecontent obtaining request data to that content data D1 by the abovesending data generating part 164, and sends them from a sending part 165to the data providing server 151 via the Internet 105.

[0274] Furthermore, if the content request data is sent from the dataproviding server via the Internet 105, the content server 152 receivesthis by the receiving part 160, extracts the content ID from thatcontent request data by the content ID extracting part 161, andtransmits this to the content retrieval part 162.

[0275] The content server 152 retrieves data in the content database 154based on that content ID by the content retrieval part 162, readscorresponding content data D1 and additional information, and sends themfrom the sending part 165 via the sending data generating part 164 tothe data providing server 151 on the Internet 105.

[0276] In this manner, the content server 152 can provide the contentdata D1 to the data providing server 151.

[0277] Here, rental reservation processing procedures by the dataproviding server 151, the request terminal 103 and the content server152 in the data providing system 150 will be described except for thepayment of rental charges (i.e. accounting). As shown in FIG. 10A,first, the request terminal 103 enters routine RT1 from the start step,and executes similar processing to the case described above withreference to FIG. 7A.

[0278] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10B in that the samereference numerals are added to corresponding parts in FIG. 7B, the dataproviding server 151 enters routine RT3 from the start step andsequentially executes the processing at steps SP11 and SP12. And then,the data providing server 151 proceeds to step SP21 to retrieve a datatable in the content database 153 by the accounting part 156 and judgingwhether or not it is necessary to obtain the content data D1 that thecustomer requested to rent from the content server 152.

[0279] Obtaining an affirmative result in this step SP21 means that thecontent data D1 has not been stored in the content database 153 in thedata providing server 151. At this time, the data providing server 151proceeds to step SP22 to send the recording control data D3 generated bythe accounting part 156 as content obtaining request data from thesending part 118 to the content server 152 via the Internet 105, and itproceeds to step SP23.

[0280] Here, as shown in FIG. 10C, the content server 152 enters routingRT4 from the start step, and proceeds to the next step SP31. In stepSP31, the content server 152 awaits that the content obtaining requestdata is sent from the data providing server 151. If the content server152 receives the content obtaining request data from the data providingserver 151 by the receiving part 160, the content server 152 proceeds tostep SP32.

[0281] In step SP32, the content server 152 retrieves the content dataD1 in the content database 154 by the content retrieval part 162 basedon the content ID extracted from the content obtaining request data bythe content ID extracting part 161, and reads the content data D1 havingthat content ID from the above content database 154. Then, the contentserver 152 proceeds to step SP33.

[0282] In step SP33, the content server 152 adds the content obtainingrequest data to the content data D1 read from the content database 154by the sending data generating part 164, sends them from the sendingpart 165 to the data providing server 151 via the Internet 105, andproceeds to the next step SP34 to finish the above processing by thecontent server 152.

[0283] On the other hand, in step SP23, the data providing server 151which sent the content obtaining request data to the content server 152awaits that the content data D1 is sent from the above content server152. If the data providing server 151 receives the content data D1 (withthe content obtaining request data) from the above content server 152 bythe receiving part 115, the data providing server 151 proceeds to stepSP24.

[0284] In step SP24, the data providing server 151 transmits thereceived content data D1 and content obtaining request data from thereceiving data judging part 155 to the recording control part 157, andgenerates rental reservation acceptance data by the receiving datajudging part 155, and sends this from the sending part 118 to therequest terminal 103 via the Internet 105. Successively, the dataproviding server 151 sequentially executes the processing at steps SP14and SP15. And then, the data providing server 151 proceeds to step SP16to finish the processing by the above data providing server 151. In thismanner, the data providing server 151 finishes the rental reservationprocessing for the content data D1.

[0285] In this connection, obtaining a negative result in theaforementioned step SP21 means that the content data D1 that thecustomer requested to rent has been stored in the content database 153in the data providing server 151. At this time, the data providingserver 151 proceeds to step SP24 to generate rental reservationacceptance data by the recording control part 157 that received therecording control data D3 from the accounting part 156, and sends thisfrom the sending part 118 to the request terminal 103 via the Internet105, and then, the data providing server 151 proceeds to step SP14.

[0286] According to the above configuration, in this data providingsystem 150, the data providing server 151 having the content database153 storing many content data D1 is connected to the content server 152having the content database 154 storing further more content data D1than the above content database 153 on the Internet 105.

[0287] In this data providing system 150, if the data providing server151 receives the rental reservation request data D2 from the requestterminal 103 by the customer's operation, the data providing server 151judges whether or not the content data D1 that the customer requested torent has been stored in the content database 153 in the data providingserver 151. If the content data D1 has not been stored, the dataproviding server 151 obtains the content data D1 from the content server152, and records this in the portable dedicated terminal 102 that willbe rented to the customer.

[0288] Accordingly, in this data providing system 150, the scale of thecontent database 153 in the data providing server 151 can becomparatively small. And even if the scale of the content database 153is reduced, various content data D1 requested by the customer can beaccurately rented.

[0289] In this connection, in this data providing system 150, since thescale of the content database 153 in the data providing server 151 canbe reduced, the agency that installs it can largely reduce investment inequipment.

[0290] According to the above configuration, the data providing server151 having the content database 153 storing many content data D1 isconnected to the content server 152 having the content database 154storing further more content data D1 than the above content database153. In the data providing server 151 for receiving a rental requestfrom the customer, in the case where content data D1 that the customerrequested to rent has not been stored in the content database 153, thedata providing server 151 obtains the content data D1 from the contentserver 152 and rents this to the customer. Thereby, in addition to theeffects obtained by the aforementioned second embodiment, the scale ofthe content database 153 in the data providing server 151 can be largelyreduced. And even if the scale of the content database 153 is reduced, adata providing system that can accurately rent various content data D1requested to the customer can be realized.

[0291] Note that, in the aforementioned third embodiment, it has dealtwith the case where a part of many content data D1 stored in the contentdatabase 154 of the content server 152 is stored in the content database153 of the data providing server 151. However, this invention is notonly limited this but also different content data D1 may be stored inthe content database 154 of the content server 152 and the contentdatabase 153 of the data providing server 151, respectively.Furthermore, different content data D1 may be separatively stored in thecontent databases of many data providing servers 151 and content servers152, respectively. Thereby, the scale of the content databases in thedata providing servers 151 and the content servers 152 as a whole can befurther reduced.

[0292] In the aforementioned third embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where the data providing server 151 obtains content data D1 fromthe content server 152. However, this invention is not only limited thisbut also a changer for automatically selecting and reproducing contentdata D1 from packaged media that was purchased by the agency for sale orrental may be installed in the agency, and the data providing server 151may obtain the content data D1 from the changer, or the content server152 may be used together with the changer.

[0293] In the aforementioned third embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where the portable dedicated terminal 102 dedicated to the agencyis rented to the customer together with content data D1. However, thisinvention is not only limited this but also the portable dedicatedterminal 102 may be sold to the customer, and the content data D1 may berecorded in the above portable dedicated terminal 102 for sale and/orrental.

[0294] Furthermore, in the aforementioned third embodiment, it has dealtwith the case where content data D1 that the customer requested to rentis recorded in the portable dedicated terminal 102 dedicated to theagency. However, this invention is not only limited this but also thecontent data D1 that the customer requested to purchase/rent may berecorded in a portable recording and/or reproducing device or the likesuch as a portable telephone, a portable MD player carried into theagency by the customer.

[0295] (5) Fourth Embodiment

[0296]FIG. 11 shows a data providing system 200 according to a fourthembodiment. The data providing system 200 is formed by that a portablededicated terminal 202 corresponding to the portable dedicated terminals7A to 7N described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and anadvertiser/company server 203 corresponding to the advertiser andcompany site 6 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 areconnected to an intermediate server 201 corresponding to the systemmanagement site 2 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3,respectively, on the Internet 204.

[0297] The intermediate server 201 has a customer database 210 forregistering a customer using the Internet 204 via the intermediateserver 201, and an advertiser and company database 211 for registeringadvertisers and companies that want to provide distribution data such asadvertisement to the customer via the Internet 204.

[0298] In the advertiser and company database 211, advertiser/companyregistering screen data has been previously stored. If registrationrequest data for requesting registration is sent from theadvertiser/company server 203 of an advertiser/company that wants anadvertiser/company registration, the intermediate server 201 receivesthis by a receiving part 212, reads the advertiser/company registeringscreen data from the advertiser/company database 211 according to theregistration request data by an advertiser/company information updatingpart 213, and sends this from a sending part 214 to theadvertiser/company server 203 on the Internet 204.

[0299] As a result, if advertiser/company information shown in FIG. 12A,that was entered by an operator on an advertiser/company registeringscreen based on the advertiser/company registering screen data, is sentfrom the advertiser/company server 203 as advertiser/companyregistration information data, the intermediate server 201 receives thisby the receiving part 212.

[0300] Here, as shown in FIG. 12A, the advertiser/company informationsent from the advertiser/company server 203 to the intermediate server201 is composed of various information peculiar to each advertiser orcompany, such as a company's name (that is, advertiser's nameinformation or company's name information), a telephone number and ane-mail address, business contents information including distributiongenre information representing the genre of distribution data that theadvertiser/company provides (e.g., Japanese cars and/or imported cars,rock music and/or classic music, Hollywood motion pictures or Japanesemotion pictures), a comment such as the catchphrase of theadvertiser/company, and a term number representing a term when theadvertise/company concludes a contract to the customer. They aregenerated by that the operator in the advertiser/company directly inputsor selects from among various items shown by the intermediate server201.

[0301] If the intermediate server 201 obtains such advertiser/companyinformation, the intermediate server 201 issues peculiaradvertiser/company identification information to each advertiser/companyrequesting the registration (hereinafter, this is referred to asadvertiser/company ID) by the advertiser/company information updatingpart 213, and sends this from the sending part 214 to theadvertiser/company server 203 of the advertiser/company requesting theregistration, via the Internet 204.

[0302] In addition to this, as shown in FIG. 12B, the intermediateserver 201 adds the advertiser/company ID to the advertiser/companyinformation obtained from the above advertiser/company by theadvertiser/company information updating part 213, and stores them asadvertiser/company registration information in the advertiser andcompany database 211 to register the advertiser/company. In this manner,the intermediate server 201 accepts a registration request from anadvertiser or a company at any time, and executes advertiser/companyregistering processing.

[0303] On the other hand, in the customer database 210, customerregistering screen data has been previously stored. If registrationrequest data for requesting registration is sent from the portablededicated terminal 202 by that the customer who requests a registrationoperates an operating part 240, the intermediate server 201 receivesthis by the receiving part 212, reads the customer registering screendata from the customer database 210 according to the registrationrequest data by a customer information updating part 215, and sends thisfrom the sending part 214 to the portable dedicated terminal 202 on theInternet 204.

[0304] As a result, if customer information that the customer entered ona customer registering screen based on the customer registering screendata, as shown in FIG. 13A, is sent from the portable dedicated terminal202 as customer registration information data, the intermediate server201 receives this by the receiving part 212.

[0305] Here, as shown in FIG. 13A, the customer information sent fromthe customer to the intermediate server 201 is composed of variouspersonal information such as a customer's name, sex and age, informationabout a genre that the customer has interest (e.g., Japanese cars and/orimported cars, rock music and/or classic music, Hollywood motionpictures and/or Japanese motion pictures, etc.) (hereinafter, this isreferred to as customer's favorite genre information), and tasteinformation for representing a customer's taste or the like by acomment, a term number representing a term when the customer contractsto an advertiser/company, and an e-mail address that has been previouslyallotted to the portable dedicated terminal 202 used by the customer.They are generated by that the customer directly inputs or selects fromamong various items shown by the intermediate server 201.

[0306] In this connection, the terms in the case where the customercontracts with an advertiser/company are as FIG. 14: “Theadvertiser/company pays a part of customer's communication charges.”,“The advertiser/company discounts the purchase of merchandise etc. bythe customer.”, “The customer can use the point of Internet mileage thatthe customer got in payment for the purchase of merchandise etc.”, “Theadvertiser/company gives a present to the customer according to thepoint of the Internet mileage that the customer got.”, “The customeraccesses the site of the advertiser/company for a predetermined time orover every month.”, “The customer purchases merchandise etc. from theadvertiser/customer for a predetermined amount or over every month.”,etc.

[0307] If the aforementioned customer information is obtained, theintermediate server 201 issues a customer ID to the customer by thecustomer information updating part 215, and sends this from the sendingpart 214 to the customer's portable dedicated terminal 202 via theInternet 204 for storing.

[0308] At this time, as shown in FIG. 13B, the intermediate server 201adds the customer ID to the customer information by the customerinformation updating part 215, and stores them in the customer database210 as customer registration information to register the customer. Inthis manner, the intermediate server 201 accepts a registration requestfrom a customer at any time, and executes the customer registrationprocessing.

[0309] Thereafter, if content specifying data including the customer IDis sent from the portable dedicated terminal 202 to request thedistribution of content data to various agencies by an operation by thatthe registered customer operates the operating part 240, theintermediate server 201 temporarily receives this by the receiving part212.

[0310] The intermediate server 201 retrieves the customer registrationinformation in the customer database 210 based on the customer IDincluded in the content specifying data. And if it detects thecustomer's registration information, it adds this to the contents of thecontent specifying data as additional customer information, and updatesthem. Then, the intermediate server 201 sends the content specifyingdata from the sending part 214 to the agency via the Internet 204.

[0311] In this manner, the intermediate server 201 relays content datafrom the portable dedicated terminal 202 to the agency every time whenthe customer uses the agency on the Internet 204, so that as shown inFIG. 15, the intermediate server 201 adds accessed genre informationrepresenting the genre of the content data that the customer obtainedfrom the agency, access counter information representing the number oftimes that the customer obtained content data of that genre, andinformation about the amount of money that the customer paid to obtainthe above content data, to the customer registration information, andsequentially updates the contents of that customer registration by thecustomer information updating part 215.

[0312] In this connection, the intermediate server 201 issues a point togive the customer a privilege such as a discount (Internet mileage)every time when the customer uses the agency by the portable dedicatedterminal 202 by the customer information updating part 215, according tothe using state (purchase of content data, rental price, using time ofthe Internet, etc.). Also that point will be added to the customerregistration information every issue.

[0313] Therefore, the intermediate server 201 can grasp the customer'staste or the like based on the customer registration information in thecustomer database 210.

[0314] By the way, if approval-by-customer data (including the customerID) to approve the release of the customer information to anadvertiser/company, in order to contract to the advertiser/customer toobtain distribution data, is sent from the portable dedicated terminal202 by a customer's operation, the intermediate server 201 (FIG. 11)receives this by the receiving part 212, and takes this in a matchingpart 216.

[0315] In this case, as shown in FIG. 16, the matching part 216 takesthe approval-by-customer data in a monitoring part 220. In the monitorpart 220, the customer registration information on the customer whoapproved the release is read from the customer database 210 based on thecustomer ID included in the approval-by-customer data, and istransmitted to a judging part 221, and to an advertiser/companyinformation extracting part 223 via a delay part 222.

[0316] The matching part 216 judges whether or not there is a genreshowing the number of times that the customer obtained the content datamore than a threshold value previously set (for example, 100 times) asthe genre of the content data that the customer obtained, from theaccessed genre information and the access counter information in thecustomer registration information, by the judging part 221.

[0317] If there is a genre showing the number of the times of obtainingmore than the threshold value in the customer registration information,the matching part 216 detects the genre as a genre matching to thecurrent customer's taste, and judges that the intermediate server 201can introduce the customer to an advertiser and/or a company, by thejudging part 221. The matching part 216 notifies the advertiser/companyinformation extracting part 223 of that genre as customer's tasteinformation.

[0318] The matching part 216 compares distribution genre informationincluded in the advertiser/company registration information in theadvertiser and company database 211 with the customer's tasteinformation to retrieve advertiser/company registration information thatthey are matching, and reads the advertiser/company registrationinformation (FIG. 12B) of the advertiser/company that can providedistribution data in the genre shown by the above customer's tasteinformation, by the advertiser/company information extracting part 223.The matching part 216 excepts the advertiser/company ID from thus readadvertiser/company registration information, and generatesadvertiser/company introducing information to introduce theadvertiser/company to the customer, as shown in FIG. 17.

[0319] The matching part 216 sends the advertiser/company introducinginformation from the sending part 214 to the portable dedicated terminal202 via the Internet 204 as advertiser/company introducing data,according to the e-mail address shown in the customer registrationinformation supplied from the delay part 222, by the advertiser/companyinformation extracting part 223. Thereby, the advertiser/company thatcan provide the distribution data matching with the customer's taste canbe introduced to the customer.

[0320] On the contrary, if there is no genre showing the number of thetimes of obtaining more than the threshold value in the customerregistration information, the matching part 216 judges that because thecustomer's taste is not clear, the intermediate server 201 cannotintroduce the customer to advertisers and/or companies, by the judgingpart 221, and notifies the above judged result to the advertiser/companyinformation extracting part 223.

[0321] The matching part 216 generatesintroduction-of-advertiser-and/or-company impossibility informationrepresenting that an advertiser and/or a company that can providedistribution data matching with the customer's taste could not be foundby the advertiser/company information extracting part 223, and sendsthis from the sending part 214 to the portable dedicated terminal 202via the Internet 204 introduction-of-advertiser-and/or-companyimpossibility data, according to the e-mail address shown in thecustomer registration information supplied from the delay part 222.Thereby, that an advertiser and/or a company that can providedistribution data matching with the customer's taste could not be foundat the present time is notified to the customer.

[0322] As a result of that the advertiser and/or company was introducedto the customer, if advertiser and/or company selecting data (includingthe customer ID) showing the advertiser and/or company that the customerselected from among the introduced advertisers and/or companies is sentfrom the portable dedicated terminal 202 by the customer's operation,the intermediate server 201 receives this by the receiving part 212, andtakes this in the advertiser/company information extracting part 223from the monitoring part 220 of the matching part 216 via the judgingpart 221.

[0323] If the advertiser and/or company introducing information isgenerated, the matching part 216 temporarily stores the customerregistration information and the customer's taste information that wereused to generate that, in the advertiser/company information extractingpart 223.

[0324] Therefore, if the matching part 216 takes the advertiser and/orcompany selecting data in the advertiser/company information extractingpart 223, the matching part 216 generates customer introducinginformation in that the matching taste information in the customerregistration information (FIG. 13B) is selectively used based on thecustomer's taste information as shown in FIG. 18, to introduce thecustomer to the advertiser and/or company, and sends this as customerintroducing data, from the sending part 214 to the advertiser/companyserver 203 of the advertiser/company that the customer selected on theInternet 204, according to the advertiser and/or company selecting data.

[0325] Thereby, the intermediate server 201 shown in FIG. 11 canintroduce the advertiser and/or company that can provide distributiondata useful for the customer, to the customer who requested theintroduction of advertisers and/or companies. At the same time, theintermediate server 201 can introduce the customer who needs theirproviding of distribution data to the advertisers/companies.

[0326] In this connection, as a result of that the advertiser and/orcompany was introduced to the customer, ifselection-of-advertiser/company impossible data representing that thecustomer could not find an advertiser and/or a company wanting tocontract is sent from the portable dedicated terminal 202, theintermediate server 201 receives this by the receiving part 212, forbidsthe matching part 216 to generate customer introducing information, andawaits sending of approval-by-customer data from the portable dedicatedterminal 202 of the above customer again.

[0327] Note that, when the intermediate server 201 introduces thecustomer to an advertiser and/or a company, it collects charges for theintroduction of the customer from the advertiser and/or company.

[0328] As a result of that the intermediate server 201 sent the customerintroducing data to the advertiser/company server 203, if the advertiserand/or company contracts with the customer and contract conclusion datais sent from the advertiser/company server 203, the intermediate server201 receives this by the receiving part 212, and then sends this fromthe sending part 214 to the portable dedicated terminal 202 on theInternet 204. Thereby, the conclusion of the contract between theadvertiser/company is notified to the customer.

[0329] At this time, as shown in FIG. 19, the intermediate server 201adds contracting customer ID information representing the customer's IDwho contracted with the above advertiser and/or company to theadvertiser/company registration information in the advertiser andcompany database 211 based on the contract conclusion data, and updatesthe advertiser/company registration information, by theadvertiser/company information updating part 213. At the same time, asshown in FIG. 20, the intermediate server 201 adds contractingadvertiser/company ID information representing theadvertiser's/customer's ID of the advertiser/company that contractedwith the above customer to the customer registration information in thecustomer database 210 based on that contract conclusion data, andupdates the customer registration information, by the customerinformation updating part 215.

[0330] Thereby, the intermediate server 201 can grasp the contractingstate between the customer and advertiser/company from thus updatedcustomer registration information and advertiser/company registrationinformation. Thus, when the release of the customer information isapproved from the customer who is under contraction with theadvertiser/company to newly contract with an advertiser and/or acompany, it can be prevented that the intermediate server 201 introducesthat advertiser/company being under contraction with the customer again.

[0331] Furthermore, as a result of that the intermediate server 201 sentthe customer introducing data to the advertiser/company server 203, ifthe advertiser/company abandons the contract with the customer andcontract inconclusion data is sent from the advertiser/company server203, the intermediate server 201 receives this by the receiving part212, and sends this from the sending part 214 to the portable dedicatedterminal 202 via the Internet 204. Thereby, that the contract with theadvertiser/company was not concluded is notified to the customer.

[0332] In this connection, when in generating the advertiser/companyintroducing information and customer introducing information describedabove with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18, the intermediate server 201excepts the contracting customer ID information and the contractingadvertiser/company ID information from the original advertiser/companyregistration information and customer registration information. Thereby,leakage of personal information unnecessary for the contract can beprevented.

[0333] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, if an operator enters aregistration request by an operating part 230, the advertiser/companyserver 203 sends the registration request as registration request data,from a sending part 232 to the intermediate server 201 via the Internet204, by a sending control part 231.

[0334] The advertiser/company server 203 receives advertiser/companyregistering screen data from the intermediate server 201 by a receivingpart 233, and transmits this from a display control part 234 to adisplay part 235. Thereby, an advertiser/company registering screenbased on the advertiser/company registering screen data is displayed onthe display part 235.

[0335] Then, if the operating part 230 is operated by the operator whilethe advertiser/company registering screen is displayed on the displaypart 235, the advertiser/company server 203 sends the advertiser/companyinformation that was entered on the advertiser/company registeringscreen according to the above operation of the operating part 230, asadvertiser/company registration information data described above withreference to FIG. 12A, from the sending part 232 to the intermediateserver 201 by the sending control part 231 via the Internet 204.

[0336] The advertiser/company server 203 receives the advertiser/companyID sent from the intermediate server 201 that finished the registrationof the advertiser/company by the receiving part 233 via the Internet204, and stores this in a distribution information database 236.Thereafter, when in accessing the intermediate server 201, theadvertiser/company server 203 uses that advertiser/company ID foridentification.

[0337] After the advertise/company server 203 was registered in theintermediate server 201, if the customer introducing informationdescribed above with reference to FIG. 17 is sent from the aboveintermediate server 201 via the Internet 204 as customer introducingdata, the advertiser/company server 203 receives this by the receivingpart 233, and takes this in a customer selecting part 237.

[0338] In this case, the advertiser/company server 203 judges whether ornot a contract should be concluded with the customer introduced from theintermediate server 201, by referring to the contract terms and theusing state of the Internet or the like, by the customer selecting part237 based on the customer introducing data.

[0339] If the advertiser/company server 203 decides to contract with thecustomer introduced from the intermediate server 201 by the customerselecting part 237, the advertiser/company server 203 generates contractconclusion data by a sending data generating part 238, and sends this tothe intermediate server 201 sequentially via the sending control part231, the sending part 232 and the Internet 204.

[0340] At this time, the advertiser/company server 203 notifies thesending control part 231 of that to contract with the customer wasdecided, by the customer selecting part 237. Thereby, theadvertiser/company server 203 properly selects and reads distributiondata matching with the customer's taste from among various distributiondata previously stored in the distribution information database 236, andsends thus read distribution data from the sending part 232 to thecustomer's portable dedicated terminal 202 via the Internet 204, by thesending control part 231.

[0341] In this manner, the advertiser/company server 203 can properlyprovide distribution data matching with the customer's taste to thecontracting customer.

[0342] In this connection, if the advertiser/company server 203 decidesnot to contract with the customer introduced from the intermediateserver 201 by the customer selecting part 237, the advertiser/companyserver 203 generates contract inconclusion data by the sending datagenerating part 238, and sends this to the intermediate server 201sequentially via the sending control part 231, the sending part 232 andthe Internet 204.

[0343] In the portable dedicated terminal 202, if the customer who wantsa registration in the intermediate server 201 enters a registrationrequest by the operating part 240, the portable dedicated terminal 202generates registration request data by a request data generating part241, and sends this from a sending part 242 to the intermediate server201 via the Internet 204.

[0344] The portable dedicated terminal 202 receives customer registeringscreen data sent from the intermediate server 201 by a receiving part243 via the Internet 204, and transmits this to a reproducing part 244composed of a display control part, a display part, a speaker, etc.Thereby, a customer registering screen based on the customer registeringscreen data is displayed by the reproducing part 244.

[0345] Then, if customer information is entered by that customeroperates the operating part 240 in the state where the customerregistering screen is displayed by the reproducing part 244, theportable dedicated terminal 202 sends the customer information from thesending part 242 to the intermediate server 201 by the request datagenerating part 241 via the Internet 204, described above with referenceto FIG. 13(A) as customer registration information data.

[0346] The portable dedicated terminal 202 receives the customer ID fromthe intermediate server 201 that finished the customer registration bythe receiving part 243 via the Internet 204, and takes that customer IDin a recording control part 245.

[0347] The portable dedicated terminal 202 can identify various datathat were taken in the recording control part 245 via the receiving part243, by the above recording control part 245 based on an identifier thathas been previously added to the data.

[0348] If the portable dedicated terminal 202 obtains the customer ID,the portable dedicated terminal 202 records the customer ID in arecording medium for customer 246 by the recording control part 245.Thereafter, when in accessing the intermediate server 201 or the agencyvia the above intermediate server 201, the portable dedicated terminal202 uses that customer ID. Thereby, the intermediate server 201 and theagency can identify the customer.

[0349] If the customer is registered in the intermediate server 201, theportable dedicated terminal 202 sends information for specifying desiredcontent data that the customer entered by operating the operating part240 from the sending part 242 to the agency by the request datagenerating part 241 via the intermediate server 201, as contentspecifying data accompanied with the customer ID.

[0350] Then, if the portable dedicated terminal 202 receives the contentdata from the agency by the receiving part 243, the portable dedicatedterminal 202 identifies that by the recording control part 245, andrecords this in an recording medium for agency 247. Thereafter, theportable dedicated terminal 202 reproduces the content data from therecording medium for agency 247 by the reproducing control part 248,according to the customer's operation of the operating part 240, andtransmits thus reproduced content data to the reproducing part 244.Thereby, the customer can enjoy the content.

[0351] If the customer enters approval information for approving therelease of the customer information by the operating part 240, theportable dedicated terminal 202 generates approval-by-customer datarepresenting that approval information by the request data generatingpart 241, and sends this from the sending part 242 to the intermediateserver 201 via the Internet 204.

[0352] As a result, if advertiser/company introducing data is sent fromthe intermediate server 201 via the Internet 204, the portable dedicatedterminal 202 receives this by the receiving part 243, and transmits thisto the reproducing part 244. An advertiser and/or company to beintroduced from the intermediate server 201 is shown to the customer byan advertiser/company introducing screen based on thatadvertiser/company introducing data.

[0353] If the customer selects desired advertiser and/or company by theoperating part 240, the portable dedicated terminal 202 generatesadvertiser/company selecting data representing that selectedadvertiser/company by the request data generating part 241, and sendsthis from the sending part 242 to the intermediate server 201 via theInternet 204.

[0354] As a result, if contract conclusion data is sent from theintermediate server 201 via the Internet 204 by that the advertiser orthe company contracted with the customer, the portable dedicatedterminal 202 receives this by the receiving part 243, and transmits thisto the reproducing part 244. Thereby, the conclusion of the contractwith the advertiser/company is notified to the customer.

[0355] If the distribution data is sent from the advertiser/companyserver 203 being under contraction with the customer, the portablededicated terminal 202 receives this by the receiving part 243,identifies the above received distribution data and records this in therecording medium for customer 246 by the recording control part 245.Thereafter, the portable dedicated terminal 202 reproduces thedistribution data from the recording medium for customer 246 by thereproducing control part 248 according to the customer's operation ofthe operating part 240, and transmits the above reproduced distributiondata to the reproducing part 244. Thereby, various information based onthat distribution data can be shown to the customer.

[0356] On the contrary, if contract inconclusion data is sent from theintermediate server 201 by that the advertiser or the company abandonthe contract with the customer, the portable dedicated terminal 202receives this by the receiving part 243, and transmits this to thereproducing part 244. Thereby, the inconclusion of the contract with theadvertiser/company is notified to the customer.

[0357] In this connection, as a result of that the portable dedicatedterminal 202 sent the approval-by-customer data to the intermediateserver 201, if introduction-of-advertiser-and/or-company disapprovaldata is sent, the portable dedicated terminal 202 receives this by thereceiving part 243, and transmits this to the reproducing part 244.Thereby, that the intermediate server 201 could not find an advertiserand/or a company introducible to the customer at the present time isnotified to the customer.

[0358] As a result of that the advertisers and/or company introducedfrom the intermediate server 201 were shown to the customer, ifselection disapproval information representing that the customer couldnot find an advertiser and/or a company that he/she wants to contractfrom among the introduced advertiser and/or company is entered by theabove customer by the operating part 240, the portable dedicatedterminal 202 generates selection-of-advertiser-and/or-companydisapproval data representing that selection disapproval information bythe request data generating part 241, and sends this from the sendingpart 242 to the intermediate server 201 via the Internet 204.

[0359] By the way, the recording medium for customer 246 and therecording medium for agency 247 have been provided in this portablededicated terminal 202 as described above. So that, the data obtainedfrom the intermediate server 201 and the advertiser/company server 203(customer ID and distribution data) will be recorded in the recordingmedium for customer 246 by separating that from the data obtained fromthe agency (content data).

[0360] Thereby, in the advertiser/company server 202, when the contentdata rented from the agency is erased from the recording medium foragency 247 on the expiration of the rental term, that the data such asthe customer ID and the distribution data obtained for the customer fromthe servers are erroneously erased with the above content data, can besurely prevented.

[0361] Here, an advertiser/company registration processing procedure bythe intermediate server 201 and the advertiser/company server 203 in thedata providing system 200 will be collectively described. First, asshown in FIG. 21A, the advertiser/company server 203 enters routine RT10from the start step, and proceeds to step SP101.

[0362] In step SP101, the advertiser/company server 203 awaits that aregistration request is entered by the operating part 230. If it isentered, the advertiser/company server 203 proceeds to step SP102.

[0363] In step SP102, the advertiser/company server 203 sends theregistration request from the sending part 232 to the intermediateserver 201 as registration request data by the sending control part 231,and proceeds to step SP103.

[0364] At this time, as shown in FIG. 21B, the intermediate server 201enters routine RT11 from the start step, and proceeds to step SP111 toawait the registration request data from the advertiser/company server203. If the intermediate server 201 receives the registration requestdata from the above advertiser/company server 203 by the receiving part212, it proceeds to step SP112.

[0365] In step SP112, the intermediate server 201 readsadvertiser/company registering screen data from the advertiser andcompany database 211 based on the received registration request data bythe advertiser/company information updating part 213, and sends thisfrom the sending part 214 to the advertiser/company server 203, and itproceeds to step SP103.

[0366] At this time, in step SP103, the advertiser/company server 203awaits the advertiser/company registering screen data from theintermediate server 201. If the advertiser/company server 203 receivesthe advertiser/company registering screen data by the receiving part233, it proceeds to step SP104.

[0367] In step SP104, the advertiser/company server 203 sendsadvertiser/company information that was entered on an advertiser/companyregistering screen based on the advertiser/company registering screendata by the operator with the operating part 230, from the sending part232 to the intermediate server 201 by the sending control part 231 asadvertiser/company registration information data, and it proceeds tostep SP105.

[0368] At this time, in step SP113, the intermediate server 201 awaitsthe advertiser/company registration information data from theadvertiser/company server 203. If the intermediate server 201 receivesthe advertiser/company registration information data by the receivingpart 212, it proceeds to step SP114.

[0369] In step SP114, the intermediate server 201 issues anadvertiser/company ID to the advertiser/company that requested aregistration by the advertiser/company information updating part 213,and sends this from the sending part 214 to the advertiser/companyserver 203. At the same time, the intermediate server 201 and adds theadvertiser/company ID to the advertiser/company information based on theadvertiser/company registration information data obtained from the aboveadvertiser/company server 203 and sets this as advertiser/companyregistration information, and stores this in the advertiser and companydatabase 211 to register the advertiser/company that requested theregistration. Then, the intermediate server 201 proceeds to step SP115to finish the processing in the intermediate server 201.

[0370] Furthermore, in step SP105, the advertiser/company server 203awaits the advertiser/company ID from the intermediate server 201. Ifthe advertiser/company server 203 receives the advertiser/company ID bythe receiving part 233, it proceeds to step SP106 to store theadvertiser/company ID in the distribution information database 236.Then, the advertiser/company server 203 proceeds to the next step SP107to finish the processing in the advertiser/company server 203. In thismanner, the data providing system 200 finishes all theadvertiser/company registering processing procedures in the intermediateserver 201 and the advertiser/company server 203.

[0371] An advertiser/company introducing processing procedures by theintermediate server 201 and the portable dedicated terminal 202 in thedata providing system 200 will be collectively described. First, asshown in FIGS. 22A and 23A, the portable dedicated terminal 202 entersrouting RT12 from the start step, and proceeds to step SP121.

[0372] In step SP121, the portable dedicated terminal 202 awaits thatthe customer enters a registration request by the operating part 240. Ifthe registration request is entered, the portable dedicated terminal 202proceeds to step SP122.

[0373] In step SP122, the portable dedicated terminal 202 sends theregistration request from the sending part 242 to the intermediateserver 201 as registration request data by the request data generatingpart 241, and it proceeds to step SP123.

[0374] At this time, as shown in FIGS. 22B and 23B, the intermediateserver 201 enters routine RT13 from the start step, and proceeds to stepSP141 to await the registration request data from the portable dedicatedterminal 202. If the intermediate server 201 receives the registrationrequest data from the portable dedicated terminal 202 by the receivingpart 212, it proceeds to step SP142.

[0375] In step SP142, the intermediate server 201 reads customerregistering screen data from the customer database 210 by the customerinformation updating part 215 based on the registration request data,and sends this from the sending part 214 to the portable dedicatedterminal 202, and proceeds to step SP143.

[0376] At this time, in step SP123, the portable dedicated terminal 202awaits the customer registering screen data from the intermediate server201. If the portable dedicated terminal 202 receives the customerregistering screen data by the receiving part 243, it proceeds to stepSP124.

[0377] In step SP124, the portable dedicated terminal 202 sends customerinformation that was entered on a customer registering screen based onthe customer registering screen data by the customer with the operatingpart 240, from the sending part 242 to the intermediate server 201 bythe request data generating part 241 as customer registrationinformation data, and it proceeds to step SP125.

[0378] At this time, in step SP143, the intermediate server 201 awaitsthe customer registration information data from the portable dedicatedterminal 202. If the intermediate server 201 receives the customerregistration information data by the receiving part 212, it proceeds tostep SP144.

[0379] In step SP144, the intermediate server 201 issues a customer IDto the customer who requested a registration by the customer informationupdating part 215, and sends this from the sending part 214 to theportable dedicated terminal 202. At the same time, the intermediateserver 201 adds the customer ID to the customer information based on theabove customer registration information data obtained from the portablededicated terminal 202 and sets this as customer registrationinformation, and stores this in the customer database 210 to registerthe above customer who requested the registration. Then, theintermediate server 201 proceeds to step SP145.

[0380] At this time, in step SP125, the portable dedicated terminal 202awaits the customer ID from the intermediate server 201. If the portablededicated terminal 202 receives the customer ID by the receiving part243, it proceeds to step SP126 to record that customer ID in therecording medium for customer 246, and proceeds to step SP127.

[0381] In step SP127, the portable dedicated terminal 202 awaits thatthe customer enters a request with the operating part 240. If a requestis entered, the portable dedicated terminal 202 proceeds to step SP128to determine whether or not that is a request to permit the release ofthe customer information.

[0382] Obtaining a negative result in this step SP128 means that thecustomer's request is specifying information for example to obtaincontent data from various agencies. At this time, the portable dedicatedterminal 202 proceeds to step SP129 to generate content specifying datarepresenting the specifying information including the customer ID by therequest data generating part 241, and sends this from the sending part242 to the agencies via the intermediate server 201, and it returns tostep SP127.

[0383] Thereafter, until the customer requests the permission of therelease of the customer information, the portable dedicated terminal 202repeats the processing loop of steps SP127-SP128-SP129 every time whencontent data specifying information is entered by the customer.

[0384] Obtaining an affirmative result in step SP128 means that thepermission of the release of the customer information was requested bythat the customer wanted to contract with an advertiser and/or acompany. At this time, the portable dedicated terminal 202 proceeds tostep SP130 to generate customer approval data representing thepermission of the release of the customer information and including thecustomer ID by the request data generating part 241, and sends this fromthe sending part 242 to the intermediate server 201. Then, the portablededicated terminal 202 proceeds to step SP131.

[0385] On the other hand, in step SP145, the intermediate server 201awaits that data is sent from the portable dedicated terminal 202. Ifthe intermediate server 201 receives data from the above portablededicated terminal 202 by the receiving part 212, it proceeds to stepSP146 to determine whether or not the received data is the customerapproval data.

[0386] Obtaining a negative result in step SP146 means that theintermediate server 201 received content specifying data from theportable dedicated terminal 202 for relay to the agency. At this time,the intermediate server 201 proceeds to step SP147 to update thecustomer registration information based on the content specifying databy the customer information updating part 215. Then, the intermediateserver 201 proceeds to step SP145.

[0387] In this manner, until the customer approval data is sent from theportable dedicated terminal 202, the intermediate server 201 repeats theprocessing loop of steps SP145-SP146-SP147 every time when contentspecifying data is received from the above portable dedicated terminal202, and sequentially updates the customer registration information.

[0388] Obtaining an affirmative result in step SP146 means that theintermediate server 201 received the customer approval data by that thecustomer permitted the release of the customer information to contractwith an advertiser and/or company. At this time, the intermediate server201 proceeds to step SP148 to determine whether or not there is a genreshowing the number of the times of obtaining more than the thresholdvalue, for the content data obtained by the customer by the matchingpart 216 based on the customer registration information.

[0389] Obtaining a negative result in this step SP148 means that becausethere is no genre, it is hard to specify the customer's taste at thepresent time. At this time, the intermediate server 201 generatesadvertiser and company introduction disapproval data by the matchingpart 216, and sends this from the sending part 214 to the portablededicated terminal 202 to notify the customer of that an advertiserand/or a company introducible to the customer cannot be found at thepresent time. Then, the intermediate server 201 returns step SP145.

[0390] On the contrary, obtaining an affirmative result in step SP148means that there is a genre representing the number of the times ofobtaining more than the threshold value, for the content data that thecustomer obtained. That genre is specified as the customer's taste atthe present time. At this time, the intermediate server 201 proceeds tostep SP149.

[0391] In step SP149, the intermediate server 201 retrievesadvertiser/company registration information in the advertiser andcompany database 211 based on the customer's taste that was specified instep SP148, by the matching part 216, and reads the advertiser/companyregistration information on an advertiser and a company that can providedistribution data matching with the customer's taste.

[0392] The intermediate server 201 generates advertiser and/or companyintroducing information based on the advertiser/company registrationinformation read from the advertiser and company database 211 by thematching part 216, and sends this from the sending part 214 to theportable dedicated terminal 202 as advertiser and/or company introducingdata, to introduce the advertiser and/or company to the customer. Then,the intermediate server 201 returns to step SP145 and repeats theprocessing of steps SP145-SP146-SP147-SP148-SP149 again.

[0393] After sending the customer approval data to the intermediateserver 201, in step SP131, the portable dedicated terminal 202 awaitsthe advertiser and/or company introducing data or the advertiser/companyintroduction disapproval data from the intermediate server 201. If theportable dedicated terminal 202 receives the advertiser and/or companyintroducing data or the advertiser and company introduction disapprovaldata from the intermediate server 201 by the receiving part 243, itproceeds to the next step SP132.

[0394] If the portable dedicated terminal 202 receives the advertiserand company introduction disapproval data by the receiving part 243, instep SP132, the portable dedicated terminal 202 transmits this to thereproducing part 244 to notify the customer of that the intermediateserver 201 could not find an advertiser and a company for the customer.Then, the portable dedicated terminal 202 returns to step SP127 andrepeats the processing of steps SP127-SP128-SP129-SP130-SP131-SP132again.

[0395] If the portable dedicated terminal 202 receives the advertiserand/or company introducing data by the receiving part 243, in stepSP132, the portable dedicated terminal 202 transmits this to thereproducing part 244 to show the customer the advertiser and/or thecompany that was introduced from the intermediate server 201. Then, theportable dedicated terminal 202 returns to step SP127 and repeats theprocessing of steps SP127-SP128-SP129-SP130-SP131-SP132 again. Theadvertiser and/or company introducing processing procedures in the dataproviding system 200 are executed as the above.

[0396] Contracting processing procedures by the intermediate server 201,the portable dedicated terminal 202 and the advertiser/company server203 in the data providing system 200 will be described. First, as shownin FIG. 24A, the portable dedicated terminal 202 which received theadvertiser and/or company introducing data from the intermediate server201 enters routine RT14 from the start step, and proceeds to step SP161.

[0397] In step SP161, the portable dedicated terminal 202 shows thecustomer the advertiser and/or company introduced from the intermediateserver 201 by the reproducing part 244. If the customer selects theadvertiser and/or company wanting to contract with the operating part240, the portable dedicated terminal 202 proceeds to step SP162.

[0398] In step SP162, the portable dedicated terminal 202 generatesadvertiser and/or company selecting data representing the advertiserand/or the company selected by the customer by the request datagenerating part 241, and sends this from the sending part 242 to theintermediate server 201 via the Internet 204. Then, the portablededicated terminal 202 proceeds to the next step SP163.

[0399] At this time, as shown in FIG. 24B, the intermediate server 201enters routine RT15 from the start step, and proceeds to step SP171 toawait the advertiser/company selecting data from the portable dedicatedterminal 202. If the intermediate server 201 receives theadvertiser/company selecting data from the portable dedicated terminal202 by the receiving part 212, it proceeds to step SP172.

[0400] In step SP172, the intermediate server 201 generates customerintroducing information from the customer registration information basedon the advertiser and/or company selecting data by the matching part216, and sends this from the sending part 214 to the advertiser/companyserver 203 as customer introducing data via the Internet 204. Then, theintermediate server 201 proceeds to step SP173.

[0401] Here, at this time, as shown in FIG. 24C, the advertiser/companyserver 203 enters routine RT16 from the start step, and proceeds to stepSP181 to await the customer introducing data from the intermediateserver 201. If the advertiser/company server 203 receives the customerintroducing data from the intermediate server 201 by the receiving part233, it proceeds to step SP182.

[0402] In step SP182, the advertiser/company server 203 judges whetheror not to contract with the customer by the customer selecting part 237,by referring to the contract terms and the using state of the Internet204 based on the customer introducing data.

[0403] Obtaining a negative result in step SP182 means that the contractterms shown by the customer and the using state of the Internet 204 didnot match with the request of the advertiser/company and the contractwas abandoned. At this time, the advertiser/company server 203 proceedsto step SP183 to generate contract inconclusion data by the sending datagenerating part 238, and sends this from the sending part 232 to theintermediate server 201 via the Internet 204. Then, theadvertiser/company server 203 proceeds to step SP184 to finish theprocessing in the advertiser/company server 203.

[0404] On the contrary, obtaining an affirmative result in step SP182means that the contract terms shown by the customer and the using stateof the Internet 204 matched with the request of the advertiser/companyand the advertiser/company decided to contract with the customer. Atthis time, the advertiser/company server 203 proceeds to step SP185 togenerate contract conclusion data by the sending data generating part238, and sends this from the sending part 232 to the intermediate server201 via the Internet 204. Then, the advertiser/company server 203proceeds to step SP186.

[0405] In step SP186, the advertiser/company server 203 properly readsdistribution data matching with the taste of the contracting customerfrom the distribution information database 236 by the sending controlpart 231, and sends this from the sending part 232 to the customer'sportable dedicated terminal 202 via the Internet 204. Then, theadvertiser/company server 203 proceeds to step SP184 to finish theprocessing in the advertiser/company server 203.

[0406] In step SP173, the intermediate server 201 awaits that datarepresenting the conclusion/inconclusion of a contract with the customeris sent from the advertiser/company server 203. If the intermediateserver 201 receives the above data from the advertiser/company server203 by the receiving part 212, it proceeds to step SP174.

[0407] In step SP174, the intermediate server 201 determines whether ornot the data received from the advertiser/company server 203 is thecontract conclusion data.

[0408] Obtaining a negative result in step SP174 means that theadvertiser/company abandoned to contract with the customer and theintermediate server 201 received contract inconclusion data from theadvertiser/company server 203. At this time, the intermediate server 201proceeds to step SP175 to send the contract inconclusion data from thesending part 214 to the portable dedicated terminal 202 via the Internet204 to notify the customer of that a contract with theadvertiser/company did not conclude. Then, the intermediate server 201proceeds to step SP176 to finish the processing in the intermediateserver 201.

[0409] On the contrary, obtaining an affirmative result in step SP174means that the advertiser/company contracted with the customer and theintermediate server 201 received contract conclusion data from theadvertiser/company server 203. At this time, the intermediate server 201proceeds to step SP177 to send the contract conclusion data from thesending part 214 to the portable dedicated terminal 202 via the Internet204 to notify the customer of that the contract with theadvertiser/company has concluded. Then, the intermediate server 201proceeds to step SP178.

[0410] In step SP178, the intermediate server 201 updates the customerregistration information in the customer database 210 by the customerinformation updating part 215 based on the contract conclusion data, andalso updates the advertiser/company registration information in theadvertiser and company database 211 by the advertiser/companyinformation updating part 213 based on that contract conclusion data.Then, the intermediate server 201 proceeds to step SP176 to finish theprocessing in the intermediate server 201.

[0411] Furthermore, in step SP163, the portable dedicated terminal 202awaits that data representing the conclusion/inconclusion of a contractwith the advertiser/company is sent from the intermediate server 201. Ifthe portable dedicated terminal 202 receives the above data from theintermediate server 201, it proceeds to step SP164.

[0412] In step SP164, the portable dedicated terminal 202 determineswhether or not the data received from the intermediate server 201 is thecontract conclusion data.

[0413] Obtaining a negative result in step SP164 means that theadvertiser/company abandoned the contract and the portable dedicatedterminal 202 received the contract inconclusion data from theintermediate server 201. At this time, the portable dedicated terminal202 transmits the contract inconclusion data to the reproducing part 244to notify the customer of that the contract with the advertiser/companydid not conclude. Then, the portable dedicated terminal 202 proceeds tostep SP165 to finish the processing in the portable dedicated terminal202.

[0414] On the contrary, obtaining an affirmative result in step SP164means that the advertiser/company contracted with the customer and theportable dedicated terminal 202 received the contract conclusion datafrom the intermediate server 201. At this time, the portable dedicatedterminal 202 transmits the contract conclusion data to the reproducingpart 244 to notify the customer of that the contract with theadvertiser/company was concluded. Then, the portable dedicated terminal202 proceeds to step SP166.

[0415] In step SP166, the portable dedicated terminal 202 awaitsdistribution data from the advertiser/company server 203 of theadvertiser/company that contracted with the customer. If the portablededicated terminal 202 receives distribution data from theadvertiser/company server 203 by the receiving part 243, it proceeds tostep SP167.

[0416] In step SP167, the portable dedicated terminal 202 recognizesthus received distribution data and records this in the recording mediumfor customer 246 by the recording control part 245. Thereby, thecustomer can freely reproduce and view the distribution data. Then, theportable dedicated terminal 202 proceeds to step SP165 to finish theprocessing in the portable dedicated terminal 202. In this manner, allthe contracting processing procedure in the data providing system 200 isfinished.

[0417] According to the above configuration, in this data providingsystem 200, an advertiser or a company that provides distribution datato the customer on the Internet 204 is registered by that theintermediate server 201 obtains advertiser/company information from theadvertiser/company server 203 of the advertiser/company and stores thisin the advertiser and company database 211 as advertiser/companyregistration information.

[0418] Furthermore, in the data providing system 200, the customer isregistered by that the intermediate server 201 obtains customerinformation from the intermediate server 201 of the customer who wantsto use the Internet 204 by the portable dedicated terminal 202, issues acustomer ID, adds the customer ID to the above obtained customerinformation, and stores this in the customer database 210 as customerregistration information.

[0419] In this data providing system 200, every time when the customersends content specifying data including the customer ID from the aboveportable dedicated terminal 202 to the agency to obtain content data,the content specifying data is relayed by the intermediate server 201,and the contents of the above content specifying data is added to thecustomer registration information in the customer database 210, and thecustomer registration information is updated.

[0420] In this manner, in the data providing system 200, if the customerapproval data representing that the customer permits the release of thecustomer information is sent from the portable dedicated terminal 202,the customer's taste is judged based on the customer registrationinformation in the customer database 210 in the intermediate server 201.The advertiser/company registration information in the advertiser andcompany database 211 is retrieved based on the above judged customer'staste, and the advertiser/company registration information on theadvertiser/company that can provide distribution data matching with thecustomer's taste is read, the advertiser and/or company introducing datais generated, and this is sent to the portable dedicated terminal 202.

[0421] Accordingly, in this data providing system 200, the customer caneasily select an advertiser and/or a company that can providedistribution data matching with the customer's taste while time and costis remarkably reduced.

[0422] In this data providing system 200, as a result that theadvertiser and/or company was introduced to the customer, if thecustomer selects desired advertiser and/or company, the intermediateserver 201 generates the customer introducing data based on the customerregistration information being the customer's personal information,provides this only to the advertiser/company server 203 of theadvertiser/company selected by the customer, to make theadvertiser/company decide whether or not to contract with the customer.Therefore, it can be surely prevented that the customer's personalinformation is illegally released on the Internet.

[0423] In this data providing system 200, the customer is introduced tothe advertiser and/or company as the above, and also theadvertiser/company can easily and properly select the customer whorequested to obtain distribution data from the advertiser/company, sothat distribution data can be efficiently and properly provided to thecustomer.

[0424] In this data providing system 200, the customer uses the portablededicated terminal 202 dedicated to the agency, and the customer obtainsdistribution data from the advertiser and/or company by the aboveportable dedicated terminal 202. Thereby, the versatility of theportable dedicated terminal 202 can be expanded, and the usability canbe remarkably improved.

[0425] In this data providing system 200, if the portable dedicatedterminal 202 obtains distribution data from the server, it records thedistribution data in the recording medium for customer 246 differentfrom the recording medium for agency 247 by discriminating this from thecontent data recorded in the recording medium for agency 247. Thereby,when the content data rented from the agency is erased, it can be surelyprevented that the distribution data is erroneously erased.

[0426] According to the above configuration, the intermediate server 201has the customer database 210 for storing the customer informationobtained from the portable dedicated terminal 202 by the customer toregister the customer, and the advertiser and company database 211 forstoring the advertiser/company information obtained from theadvertiser/company server 203 by the advertiser/company as theadvertiser/company registration information to register theadvertiser/company. Every time when the content specifying dataincluding the customer ID that was issued in the customer registrationis sent from the portable dedicated terminal 202 to the agency, theintermediate server 201 adds the contents of the above contentspecifying data to the customer registration information in the customerdatabase 210, and updates the customer registration information. If theintermediate server 201 receives the customer approval data from theabove portable dedicated terminal 202, the intermediate server 201retrieves the advertiser/company registration information in theadvertiser and company database 211 based on the customer's taste thatwas judged by the customer registration information in the customerdatabase 210, generates the advertiser and/or company introducing databased on the advertiser/company registration information on the selectedadvertiser and/or company, and sends this to the portable dedicatedterminal 202. Thereby, the customer can easily select an advertiserand/or a company that can provide distribution data matching with thecustomer's taste. Thus, a data providing system in that the customer caneasily and accurately obtain desired distribution data can be realized.

[0427] Note that, in the aforementioned fourth embodiment, it has dealtwith the case where if the intermediate server 201 receives the customerapproval data from the portable dedicated terminal 202, the intermediateserver 201 judges the customer's taste by the customer registrationinformation in the customer database 210, and retrieves the advertiserand/or the company in the advertiser and company database 211. However,this invention is not only limited to this but also the intermediateserver 201 may constantly judge the customer's taste by the customerregistration information in the customer database 210, when theintermediate server 201 judges the customer's taste (that is, when thenumber of the times of obtaining of the content data by the customer isthe threshold value or over), it may inquire the customer of whether ornot having an intension of releasing the customer information by theportable dedicated terminal 202, and if as a result, the customerapproval data that permits the release of the customer information issent from the customer via the portable dedicated terminal 202, theintermediate server 201 may retrieve the advertiser/company registrationinformation in the advertiser and company database 211. Thereby, it canbe surely prevented that although the customer permitted the release ofthe customer information on term that the customer will contract with anadvertiser and/or a customer, the intermediate server 201 cannot judgethe customer's taste and cannot introduce an advertiser and/or a companyto the customer.

[0428] In the aforementioned fourth embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where if the intermediate server 201 receives the customer approvaldata, the intermediate server 201 retrieves the advertiser/companyregistration information in the advertiser and company database 211based on the customer's taste judged by the customer registrationinformation in the customer database 210. However, this invention is notonly limited to this but also in addition to the customer's taste judgedby the customer registration information in the customer database 210,the advertiser/company registration information in the advertiser andcompany database 211 may be retrieved also by using the contract termsdescribed in the above customer registration information. Thereby, whenthe customer introducing data is sent to the advertiser/company server203, it can be remarkably reduced that the advertiser and/or companyabandons the contract with the customer owing to the contract term.Thus, a probability that the contract is concluded between the customerand the advertiser and/or company can be improved, and the request ofthe customer that wants to contract with the advertiser and/or companycan be further accurately taken up.

[0429] In the aforementioned fourth embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where if the intermediate server 201 receives the customer approvaldata, the intermediate server 201 retrieves the advertiser/companyregistration information in the advertiser and company database 211based on the customer's taste that was judged by the customerregistration information in the customer database 210. However, thisinvention is not only limited to this but also the advertiser/companyregistration information in the advertiser and company database 211 maybe retrieved based on the taste information in the customer informationbeing a basis for the customer registration information stored in thecustomer database 210. Thereby, in the matching part 216, the processingfor extracting the customer's taste from the customer registrationinformation can be excepted, and load on the processing can be reduced.

[0430] Furthermore, in the aforementioned fourth embodiment, it hasdealt with the case where the customer uses the intermediate server 201by means of the portable dedicated terminal 202. However, this inventionis not only limited to this but also provided that it is an apparatusconnectable to the Internet 204 such as a personal computer, a portabletelephone and a personal digital assistance (PDA), the customer can usethe intermediate server 201 by means of such various data obtainingapparatuses. Thereby, further more customers can use introduction by theintermediate server 201 to an advertiser and/or company, and the systemcan be widely popularized.

[0431] (6) Fifth Embodiment

[0432]FIG. 25 in which the same reference numerals are added tocorresponding parts in FIG. 11 shows a data providing system 260according to a fifth embodiment. The data providing system 260 is formedsimilarly to the aforementioned data providing system 200 according tothe fourth embodiment except for the configuration of an intermediateserver 261 corresponding to the system management site 2 described abovewith reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, and the configuration of a portablededicated terminal 262 corresponding to the portable dedicated terminals7A to 7N described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0433] In this case, the intermediate server 261 registers the customerwho uses the Internet 204 by means of the portable dedicated terminal262 by storing the customer registration information in a customerdatabase 265 similarly to the intermediate server 201 described abovewith reference to FIG. 11, and also registers an advertiser/company thatcan provide distribution data to the customer on the Internet 204 bymeans of the advertiser/company server 203 by storing theadvertiser/company registration information in the advertiser andcompany database 211.

[0434] Furthermore, the intermediate server 261 updates the customerregistration information in the customer database 265 every time whenthe customer uses the Internet 204 to obtain content data by theportable dedicated terminal 262, similarly to the intermediate server201 described above with reference to FIG. 11.

[0435] In addition to the customer registration information and thecustomer registering screen data, the intermediate server 261 previouslystores customer information input screen data to input customerinformation in the customer database 265. If the intermediate server 261receives the customer approval data that was sent from the portablededicated terminal 262 by customer's operation by a receiving part 266,the intermediate server 261 reads the customer information input screendata from the customer database 265 by a customer information updatingpart 267, and sends this from the sending part 214 to the portablededicated terminal 262 via the Internet 204.

[0436] If the customer information like the customer informationdescribed above with reference to FIG. 13A, that is entered on thecustomer information input screen based on the customer informationinput screen data according to customer's operation is sent from theportable dedicated terminal 262 as customer information data, theintermediate server 261 receives this by a receiving part 266 and takesthis in a matching part 268.

[0437] Here, as shown in FIG. 26, the matching part 268 is formed by anadvertiser/company information extracting part. The matching part 268extracts customer's taste genre information in the customer informationdata that was taken in from the receiving part 266 as informationrepresenting the customer's taste, retrieves the advertiser/companyregistration information in the advertiser and company database 211based on thus extracted customer's taste genre information, and readsthe advertiser/company registration information having distributiongenre information in the same genre as the genre shown in the customer'staste genre information.

[0438] Then, the matching part 268 generates the advertiser and companyintroducing information described above with reference to FIG. 17 fromthe advertiser/company registration information read from the advertiserand company database 211, and sends this from the sending part 214 tothe portable dedicated terminal 262 via the Internet 204 asadvertiser/company introducing data.

[0439] In this manner, the intermediate server 261 introduces anadvertiser and/or company that can provide distribution data matchingwith customer's taste to the customer who permitted the release of thecustomer information to the advertiser and/or the company.

[0440] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 25, the portable dedicatedterminal 262 executes a customer registration for the intermediateserver 261 similarly to the portable dedicated terminal 202 describedabove with reference to FIG. 11, and also sends various requests to theagency to obtain content data.

[0441] If an approval request for the release of the customerinformation to the advertiser/company is entered via the operating part240 by customer's operation, the portable dedicated terminal 262generates customer approval data by a request data generating part 270,and sends this from the sending part 242 to the intermediate server 261via the Internet 204.

[0442] As a result, if the customer information input screen data issent from the intermediate server 261 via the Internet 204, the portablededicated terminal 262 receives this by a receiving part 271, andtransmits this to the reproducing part 244. Thus, a customer informationinput screen based on the customer information input screen data isdisplayed.

[0443] If customer information is entered on the customer informationinput screen according to the operation of the operating part 240 by thecustomer, the portable dedicated terminal 262 generates customerinformation data representing the customer information by the requestdata generating part 270, and sends this from the sending part 242 tothe intermediate server 261 via the Internet 204.

[0444] In this manner, the portable dedicated terminal 262 can receivethe introduction of an advertiser/company that can provide distributiondata matching with the customer's taste based on the advertiser/companyintroducing data provided from the intermediate server 261.

[0445] In this data providing system 260, after the intermediate server261 introduces the advertiser/company, the above intermediate server 261executes a contract processing procedure similar to the contractprocessing procedure in the data providing system 200 (FIG. 11)described above with reference to FIGS. 24A to 24C, between the portablededicated terminal 262 and the advertiser/company server 203. Thereby,the customer and the advertiser/company can make a contract.

[0446] Here, advertiser/company introducing processing procedures by theintermediate server 261 and the portable dedicated terminal 202 in thedata providing system 260 will be collectively described. First, asshown in FIG. 27A, the portable dedicated terminal 262 enters a routineRT17 from the starting step, and proceeds to the next step SP191 toawait that the approval request for the release of the customerinformation is entered. If the approval request is entered via theoperating part 240 by customer's operation, the portable dedicatedterminal 262 proceeds to step SP192.

[0447] In step SP192, the portable dedicated terminal 262 generatescustomer approval data by the request data generating part 270, andsends this from the sending part 242 to the intermediate server 261, andthen proceeds to step SP193.

[0448] At this time, as shown in FIG. 27B, the intermediate server 261enters routine RT18 from the start step, and proceeds to the next stepSP201 to await that the customer approval data is sent from the portablededicated terminal 262. If the intermediate server 261 receives theabove customer approval data by the receiving part 266, it proceeds tostep SP202.

[0449] In step SP202, the intermediate server 261 reads customerinformation input screen data from the customer database 265 based onthe received customer approval data by the customer information updatingpart 267, and sends this from the sending part 214 to the portablededicated terminal 262, and then proceeds to step SP203.

[0450] At this time, in step SP193, the portable dedicated terminal 262awaits that the customer information input screen data is sent from theintermediate server 261. If the portable dedicated terminal 262 receivesthe above customer information input screen data by the receiving part271, it proceeds to step SP194.

[0451] In step SP194, in the state where the customer information inputscreen is displayed by that the customer information input screen datais transmitted to the reproducing part 244, if the customer enterscustomer information via the operating part 240, the portable dedicatedterminal 262 generates customer information data by the request datagenerating part 270, and sends this from the sending part 242 to theintermediate server 261, and then it proceeds to step SP195.

[0452] At this time, in step SP203, the intermediate server 261 awaitsthat the customer information data is sent from the portable dedicatedterminal 262. If the intermediate server 261 receives the above customerinformation data by the receiving part 266, it proceeds to step SP204.

[0453] In step SP204, the intermediate server 261 retrievesadvertiser/company registration information in the advertiser andcompany database 211 based on customer's taste genre information in thecustomer information data, and reads advertiser/company registrationinformation including distribution genre information having the samecontents as the above customer's taste genre information, and then itproceeds to step SP205.

[0454] In step SP205, the intermediate server 261 generates advertiserand/or company introducing data based on the advertiser/companyregistration information read from the advertiser and company database211, and sends this from the sending part 214 to the portable dedicatedterminal 262 to introduce the advertiser and/or the company to thecustomer. Then, the intermediate server 261 proceeds to step SP206 tofinish the processing in the intermediate server 261.

[0455] At this time, in step SP195, the portable dedicated terminal 262awaits that the advertiser and/or company introducing data is sent fromthe intermediate server 261. If the portable dedicated terminal 262receives the above advertiser and/or company introducing data by thereceiving part 271, it transmits this to the reproducing part 244 toshow the advertiser and/or company introduced from the intermediateserver 261 to the customer. Then, the portable dedicated terminal 262proceeds to step SP196 to finish the processing in the portablededicated terminal 262. Thereby, all the advertiser and/or companyintroducing processing procedure in the data providing system 260 isfinished.

[0456] According to the above configuration, in this data providingsystem 260, if the release of the customer information to the advertiserand/or company is permitted by the customer, the intermediate server 261sends the customer information input screen data to the portablededicated terminal 262 responding to the customer approval data sentfrom the portable dedicated terminal 262.

[0457] As a result, in the data providing system 260, the intermediateserver 261 retrieves the advertiser/company registration information inthe advertiser and company database 211 based on the customer's tastegenre information in the customer information data returned from theportable dedicated terminal 262, reads the advertiser/companyregistration information including the distribution genre informationhaving the same contents as the customer's taste genre information,generates the advertiser and/or company introducing data based on theabove read advertiser/company registration information, and sends thisto the portable dedicated terminal 262. Thereby, the intermediate server261 can introduce the advertiser and/or company that can providedistribution data matching with the customer's taste to the customer.

[0458] Accordingly, in this data providing system 260, if the release ofthe customer information to the advertiser and/or company is permittedby the customer, the intermediate server 261 obtains the customerinformation, and retrieves the advertiser/company registrationinformation based on the above obtained customer information. Therefore,if the customer requests the providing of distribution data from anadvertiser and/or a company, the intermediate server 261 can introducethe advertiser and/or company can while accurately reflecting thecustomer's interest.

[0459] That is, in this data providing system 260, even if thecustomer's interest has changed in the time from the customerregistration in the intermediate server 261 till the approval of therelease of the customer information to the advertiser and/or company, oreven at the time when the customer does not use the Internet 204frequently because the customer just began to use the portable dedicatedterminal 262, the intermediate server 261 can accurately grasp thecustomer's interest, and can introduce the advertiser and/or the companythat can provide distribution data desired by the customer to thecustomer.

[0460] According to the above configuration, the intermediate server 261sends the customer information input screen data to the portablededicated terminal 262 responding to the customer approval data sentfrom the portable dedicated terminal 262, retrieves theadvertiser/company registration information in the advertiser andcompany database 211 based on the customer's taste genre information inthe customer information data returned from the portable dedicatedterminal 262 as the result of the sending, reads the advertiser/companyregistration information including the distribution genre informationhaving the same contents as the above customer's taste genreinformation, generates the advertiser and/or company introducing databased on that advertiser/company registration information, and sendsthis to the portable dedicated terminal 262. Thereby, in addition to theeffects obtained by the aforementioned fourth embodiment, theintermediate server 261 can introduce the advertisers and/or the companyto the customer while accurately reflecting the customer's interest atthe time point that the customer requested the providing of distributiondata from an advertiser and/or a company. Thus, a data providing systemin which the customer can further accurately obtain desired distributiondata can be accomplished.

[0461] Note that, in the aforementioned fifth embodiment, it has dealtwith the case where the intermediate server 261 retrieves theadvertiser/company registration information in the advertiser andcompany database 211 based on the customer's taste genre information inthe customer information data. However, this invention is not onlylimited to this but also, instead of the customer's taste genreinformation in the customer information data, it may retrieve theadvertiser/company registration information in the advertiser andcompany database 211 by matching a comment or a word in the comment thatrepresents the customer's taste in the above customer information datawith a comment or a word in the comment such as the catchphrase of anadvertiser/company in the advertiser/company registration information,or may retrieve the advertiser/company registration information in theadvertiser and company database 211 by using all of to the customer'staste genre information and the comment, and the mutual contract terms,or by using them by coupling. Thereby, the intermediate server 261 canintroduce an advertiser and/or a company by further accuratelyreflecting the customer's taste.

[0462] In the aforementioned fifth embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where the intermediate server 261 retrieves the advertiser/companyregistration information in the advertiser and company database 211based on the customer approval data obtained when the customer permittedthe release of registration information. However, this invention is notonly limited to this but also the customer may arbitrary select themethod that the intermediate server 261 retrieves the advertiser/companyregistration information in the advertiser and company database 211based on the customer approval data obtained when the customer permittedthe release of the registration information, or the method that theintermediate server 261 retrieves the advertiser/company registrationinformation in the advertiser and company database 211 based on thecustomer registration information according to the aforementioned fourthembodiment, and the intermediate server 261 may execute it. Thereby, adata providing system can be used by both of a customer whose interestdoes not almost always change and a customer whose interestcomparatively frequently change, and the usability of the data providingsystem can be improved.

[0463] Furthermore, in the aforementioned fifth embodiment, it has dealtwith the case where the customer uses the intermediate server 261 bymeans of the portable dedicated terminal 262. However, this invention isnot only limited to this but also, provided that it is a device by whichthe customer can connect to the Internet 204 such as a personalcomputer, a portable telephone, a PDA, the intermediate server 261 canbe used by means of various data obtaining devices other than that.Thereby, further more customers can use the introduction of anadvertiser and/or a company by the intermediate server 261, and thesystem can be widely popularized.

[0464] (7) Sixth Embodiment

[0465]FIG. 28 shows a data providing system 300 according to a sixthembodiment. A request terminal 302 corresponding to the customer 3described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 (that is, the requestterminal used by the customer 3), and a portable dedicated terminal 303corresponding to the portable dedicated terminals 7A to 7N describedabove with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 dedicated to the agencies 4A to 4N,and only accessible the data providing server 301 are connected to adata providing server 301 corresponding to the agencies 4A to 4Ndescribed above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 on the Internet (notshown), respectively.

[0466] The data providing server 301 has a customer database 310 forstoring customer registration information and customer registeringscreen data, and a content database 311 for storing many content data,content selecting screen data, and customizing registering screen datato customize the content selecting screen data according to thecustomer's request.

[0467] If registration request data to request the registration of thecustomer is sent from the request terminal 302, the data providingserver 301 receives this by a receiving part 312 and takes this in anupdating part 313. The data providing server 301 reads the customerregistering screen data from the customer database 310 based on theregistration request data by the updating part 313, and sends this froma sending part 314 to the request terminal 302.

[0468] As a result, if customer information that was entered on acustomer registering screen based on the customer registering screendata is sent from the request terminal 302, the data providing server301 receives this by the receiving part 312 and taking this in theupdating part 313. The data providing server 301 issues a customer ID tothe customer who requested the registration, and adds this to thecustomer information, by the above updating part 313. The data providingserver 301 stores the customer information with the added customer ID inthe customer database 310 as customer registration information toregister the customer.

[0469] In this connection, if the data providing server 301 registersthe customer by the updating part 313, the data providing server 301generates registration completion data including the customer ID, andsends this from the sending part 314 to the request terminal 302, andnotifies the customer of the completion of the registration and thecustomer ID.

[0470] If the data providing server 301 obtains request data forrequesting the obtaining of content data is sent from the requestterminal 302, receives this by the receiving part 312, takes this in aretrieving part 315, reads content selecting screen data from thecontent database 311 based on the obtaining request data by the aboveretrieving part 315, and sends this from the sending part 314 to therequest terminal 302.

[0471] As a result, if reservation information is entered on the contentselecting screen based on the content selecting screen data andreservation data representing the above reservation information is sentfrom the request terminal 302, the data providing server 301 receivesthis by the receiving part 312.

[0472] The data providing server 301 reads the specified content datafrom the content database 311 based on the reservation data by theretrieving part 315, and sends this from a dedicated terminal not shownto a portable dedicated terminal 303 that is not still delivered to thecustomer (not shown) and is directly connected to the data providingserver 301 by a cable or the like for recording.

[0473] In this manner, the data providing server 301 previously preparesthe portable dedicated terminal 303 by accepting an advance reservationfor the purchase/rental of content data and the portable dedicatedterminal 303 from the customer with the request terminal 302, andrecording the above content data that will be purchased/rented withinthe portable dedicated terminal 303 that will be similarlypurchased/rented. Then, if the customer comes to an agency installingthe above data providing server 301, the agency sells/rents and handsthe portable dedicated terminal 303 to the customer.

[0474] The data providing server 301 can be connected to the portablededicated terminal 303 that was purchased/rented to the customer on theInternet. If the data providing server 301 obtains request data forrequesting the obtaining of content data (by purchase or rental) is sentfrom the portable dedicated terminal 303, receives this by the receivingpart 312, and takes this in the retrieving part 315.

[0475] At this time, the data providing server 301 reads contentselecting screen data from the content database 311 based on thusobtained request data by the retrieving part 315, and sends this fromthe sending part 314 to the customer's portable dedicated terminal 303.

[0476] As a result, if content data specifying information forspecifying the content data is entered on a content selecting screenbased on the content selecting screen data and content specifying datarepresenting the content specifying information is sent from theportable dedicated terminal 303, the data providing server 301 receivesthis by the receiving part 312 and takes this in the retrieving part315.

[0477] The data providing server 301 reads the specified content datafrom the content database 311 based on that content specifying data bythe retrieving part 315, and sends this from the sending part 314 to theportable dedicated terminal 303 for recording.

[0478] In this manner, the data providing server 301 sends the contentdata to the portable dedicated terminal 303 that was sold/rented to thecustomer via the Internet. Thereby, the customer can buy/rent thecontent data by means of that portable dedicated terminal 303.

[0479] Furthermore, if customizing request data for customizing theportable dedicated terminal 303 is sent, the data providing server 301receives this by the receiving part 312, takes this in the retrievingpart 315, reads customizing registering screen data that has beenpreviously stored in the content database 311 based on that customizingrequest data by the above retrieving part 315, and sends this from thesending part 314 to the portable dedicated terminal 303.

[0480] As a result, if screen customizing information for the contentselecting screen that was entered on the customizing registering screenbased on the customizing registering screen data is sent from theportable dedicated terminal 303 by the customer's operation as screencustomizing data, the data providing server 301 receives this by thereceiving part 312, and takes this in the updating part 313 and theretrieving part 315.

[0481] The data providing server 301 reads the content selecting screendata from the content database 311 by the retrieving part 315, performsprocessing on the contents selecting screen based on the screencustomizing data, and sends thus obtained customized screen data fromthe sending part 314 to the portable dedicated terminal 303.

[0482] In this manner, the data providing server 301 shows the customerthe customized screen based on the customized screen data on theportable dedicated terminal 303 to make the customer confirm whether ornot the content selecting screen has been customized as wanted. Ifconfirmation data representing the confirmation of that the abovecontent selecting screen is customized as the customer wanted is sent,the data providing server 301 adds the screen customizing data to thecustomer registration information in the customer database 310 andupdates the customer registration information by the updating part 313.

[0483] Thereafter, if obtaining request data is sent from the customerwho requested the customizing of the content selecting screen by theportable dedicated terminal 303, the data providing server 301 receivesthis by the receiving part 312, takes this in the updating part 313,reads the screen customizing information added to the customerregistration information from the customer database 310 by the aboveupdating part 313, and transmits this to a matching part 316.

[0484] The data providing server 301 reads the content selecting screendata from the content database 311 by the matching part 316, performsprocessing on the content selecting screen based on the screencustomizing information, and sends thus obtained customized screen datafrom the sending part 314 to the portable dedicated terminal 303.

[0485] Thereby, every time when obtaining request data is sent from thecustomer who requested the customizing of the content selecting screenby the portable dedicated terminal 303, the data providing server 301makes the customer specify the purchase/rental of content data on thecustomized screen based on the customized screen data according to thecustomizing request by the customer.

[0486] In this connection, in the portable dedicated terminal 303 rentedby the customer, also information for customizing the color of the casebody of the portable dedicated terminal 303 can be selected on thecustomizing registering screen. If case body customizing information forspecifying the color of the case body is sent from the portablededicated terminal 303 as case body customizing data, the data providingserver 301 receives this by the receiving part 312, takes this in theupdating part 313, adds the case body customizing information to thecustomer registration information in the customer database 310, andupdates the customer registration information by the above updating part313.

[0487] Thereby, when the customer rents a portable dedicated terminal303 again, or when the above customer purchases a portable dedicatedterminal 303 after that, the portable dedicated terminal 303 in a colorspecified by the case body customizing information is delivered to thecustomer.

[0488] On the other hand, if the customer enters customer registrationinformation by an operating part 320, the request terminal 302 generatesregistration request data representing a registration request by arequest data generating part 321, and sends this from a sending part 322to the data providing server 301.

[0489] As a result, if the request terminal 302 receives customerregistering screen data from the data providing server 301 by areceiving part 323, the request terminal 302 transmits this from adisplay control part 324 to a display part 325 to display a customerregistering screen based on the customer registering screen datathereon.

[0490] If customer information is entered on the customer registeringscreen by the customer's operation of the operating part 320, therequest terminal 302 generates customer information data by the requestdata generating part 321, and sends this from the sending part 322 tothe data providing server 301 for the customer registration.

[0491] If the customer enters a content data obtaining request by theoperating part 320, the request terminal 302 generates obtaining requestdata representing that obtaining request by the request data generatingpart 321, and sends this from the sending part 322 to the data providingserver 301.

[0492] As a result, if the request terminal 302 receives contentselecting screen data from the data providing server 301 by thereceiving part 323, it transmits this from the display control part 324to the display part 325 to display a content selecting screen based onthe content selecting screen data thereon.

[0493] If reservation information is entered on the content selectingscreen by the customer's operation of the operating part 320, therequest terminal 302 generates reservation data by the request datagenerating part 321, and sends this from the sending part 322 to thedata providing server 301. And the reservation of the purchase/rental ofthe content data and the portable dedicated terminal 303 by the customeris finished.

[0494] With respect to the portable dedicated terminal 303 sold/rentedto the customer in the state where the content data has been recorded inthe internal recording medium 340, if a reproducing command is enteredby an operating part 341, the portable dedicated terminal 303 reproducesthe content data that the customer previously purchased/rented from therecording medium 340 by a reproducing control part 342, and transmitsthis to a reproducing part 343 composed of a display control part, adisplay part, a speaker, etc. Thus, the customer can enjoy the content.

[0495] If the customer enters a content data obtaining request by theoperating part 341, the portable dedicated terminal 303 generatesobtaining request data representing that obtaining request by a requestdata generating part 344, and sends this from a sending part 345 to thedata providing server 301.

[0496] As a result, if the portable dedicated terminal 303 receivescontent selecting screen data from the data providing server 301 by areceiving part 346, the portable dedicated terminal 303 transmits thisto the reproducing part 343 to display a content selecting screen basedon the content selecting screen data.

[0497] If information for specifying content data is entered on thecontent selecting screen by the customer's operation of the operatingpart 341, the portable dedicated terminal 303 generates contentspecifying data representing that specifying information by the requestdata generating part 344, and sends this from the sending part 345 tothe data providing server 301.

[0498] If the portable dedicated terminal 303 receives the content datafrom the data providing server 301 by the receiving part 346, theportable dedicated terminal 303 records this in the recording medium 340by a recording control part 347. Thereby, after that, the content datawill be reproduced from the recording medium 340 by the reproducingcontrol part 342 according to the customer's operation of the operatingpart 341.

[0499] Furthermore, if the customer enters a customizing request by theoperating part 341, the portable dedicated terminal 303 generatescustomizing request data representing the customizing request by therequest data generating part 344, and sends this from the sending part345 to the data providing server 301.

[0500] As a result, if the portable dedicated terminal 303 receivescustomizing registering screen data from the data providing server 301by the receiving part 346, the portable dedicated terminal 303 transmitsthis to the reproducing part 343 to display a customizing registeringscreen based on that customizing registering screen data.

[0501] If screen customizing information is entered on the customizingregistering screen by the customer's operation of the operating part341, the portable dedicated terminal 303 generates screen customizingdata representing the screen customizing information by the request datagenerating part 344, and sends this from the sending part 345 to thedata providing server 301.

[0502] As a result of that the screen customizing data was sent to thedata providing server 301, if the portable dedicated terminal 303receives customized screen data from the data providing server 301 bythe receiving part 346, the portable dedicated terminal 303 sends thisto the reproducing part 343. Thereby, a customized screen based on thecustomized screen data is shown to the customer.

[0503] As a result, if the customer enters confirmation information forconfirming that the content selecting screen is customized as he/sherequested by the operating part 341, the portable dedicated terminal 303generates confirmation data by the request data generating part 344, andsends this from the sending part 345 to the data providing server 301 tostore the screen customizing information representing the contents ofcustomizing that the customer requested in the data providing server301.

[0504] After the screen customizing data was stored in the dataproviding server 301, the portable dedicated terminal 303 sends contentobtaining request data to the data providing server 301. The portablededicated terminal 303 receives the customized screen data from the dataproviding server 301 by the receiving part 346, and transmits this tothe reproducing part 343. Thereby, the customer can select content datafor purchase and rental on the customized content selecting screen.

[0505] In this connection, if case body customizing information tocustomize the color of the case body of the portable dedicated terminal303 is entered on the customizing registering screen by the customer'soperation of the operating part 341, the portable dedicated terminal 303generates case body customizing data representing the case bodycustomizing information by the request data generating part 344, andsends this from the sending part 345 to the data providing server 301.Thus, the case body customizing information on the portable dedicatedterminal 303 is stored in the data providing server 301.

[0506] In addition to the above configuration, in this sixth embodiment,when in forming the content database 311 by obtaining many content datafrom a content server (not shown) being the provider of the content dataand corresponding to the system management site described above withreference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the data providing server 301 obtains apredetermined developmental tool for forming a content selecting screenfrom the above content server.

[0507] The data providing server 301 generates content selecting screendata in that the inside of the shop of the agency is represented asthree-dimensional virtual reality space pictures by means of thatdevelopmental tool and the customer can select content data as if he/sheselects packaged media from shelves while practically walking in theshop of the agency by the above three-dimensional virtual reality spacepictures. The above generated content selecting screen data is stored inthe content database 311.

[0508] In this connection, the data providing server 301 stores the samecontent data as content data in many packaged media practically sold orrented at the agency in the content database 311, and generates thecontent selecting screen data so that the layout of the shelves,checkout counters, steps, etc. in the shop of the agency, and the layoutof the packaged media in the above shelves or the like is almostfaithfully reproduced.

[0509] The data providing server 301 updates the content selectingscreen data at a constant timing or an arbitrary timing by synchronizingwith the time when new packaged media are put on the shelves in the shopof the agency (that is, it is also the time when new content data isobtained from a content server) and the time when the inside of the shopof the agency is remodeled. Thereby, this system can provide the feelingwhen in practically selecting packaged media in the shop of the agencyto the customer selecting content data on the content selecting screen.

[0510] Practically, as shown in FIG. 29, the content selecting screendata is composed of plural picture data by adding a selection confirmingscreen 355 being a two-dimensional picture to confirm content dataselected by the customer, to the three-dimensional virtual reality spacepictures such as a “picture of exterior of shop” 350 that represents theexterior of the agency (entrance), a “picture of first floor in shop”351 and a “picture of second floor in shop” 352, that represent eachfloor of the shop, a “picture of shelf in shop” 353 that represents eachof plural shelves containing packaged media by genre in the shop with anenlargement, a content selecting screen 354 to select content data byenlarging the backbone of the packaged media aligned on the shelves.

[0511] In this case, in the picture of exterior of shop 350, an enteringbutton 360 to enter the shop and switch the display to the picture offirst floor 351 is provided.

[0512] In the picture of first floor 351 and the picture of second floor352, move buttons 361 and 362 to switch the display to the picture ofsecond floor in shop 352 or the picture of first floor in shop 351, thatis, to another floor, a shelf selecting button 363 to select a shelf bygenre and switch the display to the picture of shelf in shop 353, and acheckout counter button 364 to switch the display to a selectionconfirming screen 355 after the customer selected content data forpurchase or rental, are provided.

[0513] Furthermore, in the picture of shelf in shop 353, the packagedmedia have been classified in alphabetical order, and a detail button365 to switch the display to the content selecting screen 354 by theabove classified packaged media is provided.

[0514] In the picture of exterior of shop 350, the picture of firstfloor in shop 351, the picture of second floor in shop 352 and thecontent selecting screen 354, the picture of a human being representingthe customer (hereinafter, this is referred to as picture of customer)366 and the picture of a human being representing a clerk (hereinafter,this is referred to as picture of clerk) 367 are displayed. By movingthe picture of customer 366 as if it is practically walking in the shopand by overlapping it on the entering button 360, the move buttons 361and 362, the shelf selecting button 363, the checkout counter button364, the backbone of packaged media in the content selecting screen 354,etc. or approximating it to them and selectively specifying (clicking)these buttons, picture specifying commands previously allocated to theabove buttons can be entered.

[0515] In addition to this, in the picture of shelf in shop 353 and theselection confirming screen 355, a cursor is inversely displayed ondetail buttons 365, a confirmation button 368, a cancel button 369, etc.(not shown) by overlapping, respectively. By that the customer moves thecursor and selectively specifies (clicks) one of these buttons, acommand previously allocated to the button can be entered.

[0516] Specifically, the portable dedicated terminal 303 which receivedthe content selecting screen data first displays the picture of exteriorof shop 350 being a content selecting screen by the reproducing part343, and moves the picture of customer 366 on the picture of exterior ofshop 350 according to the customer's operation of the operating part341. If the entering button 360 is selectively specified, the portablededicated terminal 303 displays the picture of first floor in shop 351,instead of the picture of exterior of shop 350.

[0517] The portable dedicated terminal 303 moves the picture of customer366 on the picture of first floor in shop 351 according to thecustomer's operation of the operating part 341. If the move button 361is selectively specified, the portable dedicated terminal 303 displaysthe picture of second floor in shop 352 instead of the above picture offirst floor in shop 351.

[0518] In this manner, the portable dedicated terminal 303 moves thepicture of customer 366 on the picture of first floor in shop 351 andthe picture of second floor in shop 352 according to the customer'soperation of the operating part 341. If one of the shelf selectingbuttons 363 is selectively specified, the portable dedicated terminal303 displays the picture of shelf in shop 353 corresponding to the aboveshelf selecting button 363 selectively specified instead of the pictureof first floor in shop 351 or the picture of second floor in shop 352.

[0519] The portable dedicated terminal 303 moves the cursor on thepicture of shelf in shop 353 according to the customer's operation ofthe operating part 341. If one of the detail buttons 365 is selectivelyspecified, the portable dedicated terminal 303 displays a correspondingcontent selecting screen 354 instead of the above picture of shelf inshop 353.

[0520] After the picture of customer 366 was moved on the contentselecting screen 354 and content data was selectively specified as oneof packaged media according to the customer's operation of the operatingpart 341, if the move button 361 or 362 is selectively specified, theportable dedicated terminal 303 displays the picture of first floor inshop 351 or the picture of second floor in shop 352 again instead of theabove content selecting screen 354. In this manner, for instance, if thepicture of customer 366 is moved on the picture of second floor in shop352 and the checkout counter button 364 is selectively specified, theportable dedicated terminal 303 displays the selection confirming screen355 instead of the above picture of second floor in shop 352.

[0521] Here, in the selection confirming screen 355, the title of thecontent data selected by the customer, customer's name, customer ID,password, etc. are displayed. The portable dedicated terminal 303 movesthe cursor according to the customer's operation of the operating part341, so that the rental term or purchase of content data can be entered.If the rental term or purchase is entered, charges for therental/purchase of the content data are displayed responding to that.

[0522] If the portable dedicated terminal 303 moves the cursor on theselection confirming screen 355 and selectively specifies theconfirmation button 368 according to the customer's operation of theoperating part 341, the portable dedicated terminal 303 generatescontent specifying data by the request data generating part 344 by usinginformation in the selection confirming screen 355 as specifyinginformation by the request data generating part 344, and sends the abovegenerated content specifying data from the sending part 345 to the dataproviding server 301. Thereby, the customer can obtain the content datathat he/she specified.

[0523] On the contrary, if the portable dedicated terminal 303 moves thecursor on the selection confirming screen 355 and selectively specifiesthe cancel button 369 according to the customer's operation of theoperating part 341, the portable dedicated terminal 303 displays forexample the picture of first floor in shop 351, instead of the aboveselection confirming screen 355. Thereby, the customer can selectcontent data again.

[0524] In addition to this, as shown in FIGS. 30A and 30B, if theportable dedicated terminal 303 moves the picture of customer 366 andpasses this in front of each shelf on the picture of first floor in shop351 or the picture of second floor in shop 352 according to thecustomer's operation of the operating part 341, the portable dedicatedterminal 303 reproduces content data set by the agency of which theadvertisement for few seconds by matching with the genre of each shelf.Thereby, the customer views the content data intended by the agency, andit can be advertised to the customer.

[0525] In this connection, the data quantity of such content selectingscreen data is comparatively large. Therefore, if the data providingserver 301 receives the obtaining request data from the portablededicated terminal 303, the data providing server 301 first sends thedata of the picture of exterior of shop 350 to the portable dedicatedterminal 303 as content selecting screen data. Then, if the enteringbutton 360 is selectively specified on the above picture of exterior ofshop 350, the data providing server 301 receives a notification of that,and sends the data of the picture of first floor in shop 351. In thismanner, the data providing server 301 receives the notification of thespecified button and sends corresponding picture data, every time whenthe switching of the display to another picture is specified from theportable dedicated terminal 303 by the entering button 360, the movebutton 361 or 362, etc. on each picture forming the content selectingscreen data.

[0526] Furthermore, if the picture of customer 366 is moved to aspecified coordinate position that has been previously specified toreproduce content data for advertisement on the picture of first floorin shop 351 and the picture of second floor in shop 352 and thatspecified coordinate position is notified from the portable dedicatedterminal 303 to the data providing server 301, the data providing server301 reads the predetermined part of the content data corresponding tothe above notified specified coordinate position that has beenpreviously stored in the content database 311 as commercial data by theretrieving part 315, and sends this from the sending part 314 to theportable dedicated terminal 303.

[0527] The data providing server 301 divides the content selectingscreen data into the data of each picture and content data foradvertisement, and sequentially sends this to the portable dedicatedterminal 303. Thereby, it can be prevented that the capacity of therecording medium 340 in the above portable dedicated terminal 303becomes large.

[0528] By the way, in the data providing server 301, on the customizingregistering screen to be provided to the portable dedicated terminal 303according to a customizing request by the customer, various screencustomizing information such as change of a picture specifying commandpreviously and addition of a new input part to an arbitrary picture thathave been previously allocated to the buttons (the entering button 360etc.) in each picture forming the content selecting screen describedabove with reference to FIG. 29, and also the rearrangement of packagedmedia in the content selecting screen 354 into for example the order ofcreated date of content data, arbitrary change of the background colorof the above content selecting screen 354 and selection confirmingscreen 355 can be entered.

[0529] Thereby, for instance, as shown in FIG. 31, the data providingserver 301 switches the display of the content selecting screen from thepicture of exterior of shop 370 to a content selecting screen 372 basedon the screen customizing data obtained from the portable dedicatedterminal 303 by that the customer selectively specified an entry-to-shopbutton 371. Then, the data providing server 301 switches the displayfrom the above content selecting screen 372 to the selection confirmingscreen 355, or provides a new input part 373 on the picture of exteriorof shop 370 to make the customer arbitrary enter the genre of desiredcontent data and switches the display to the content selecting screen372 corresponding to that input, or newly provides an input part 374also on the content selecting screen 372 to make the customer enter therental term or the purchase of content data by specifying. In thismanner, the display of the content selecting screen can be customizedaccording to the customer's request.

[0530] Accordingly, in the data providing server 301, the usability ofthe content selecting screen can be remarkably improved for the customerwho frequently obtains content data by the portable dedicated terminal303 and also the customer who obtains content data in the comparativelysame genre.

[0531] In this connection, also if the data providing server 301receives the obtaining request data from the request terminal 302, thedata providing server 301 sends the content selecting screen datacomposed of the data of the pictures described above with reference toFIG. 29, to the above request terminal 302.

[0532] Here, content providing processing procedures using the contentselecting screen data by the data providing server 301 and the portablededicated terminal 303 in the data providing system 300 will becollectively described. First, as shown in FIG. 32A, the portablededicated terminal 303 enters routine RT20 from the start step, andproceeds to step SP211.

[0533] In step SP211, the portable dedicated terminal 303 awaits that anobtaining request is entered by customer's operation via the operatingpart 341. If the obtaining request is entered, the portable dedicatedterminal 303 proceeds to step SP212.

[0534] In step SP212, the portable dedicated terminal 303 generatesobtaining request data by the request data generating part 344 and sendsthis from the sending part 345 to the data providing server 301, andproceeds to step SP213.

[0535] Here, as shown in FIG. 32B, the data providing server 301 entersroutine RT21 from the starting step, and proceeds to step SP221. In stepSP221, the data providing server 301 awaits the time to update thecontent selecting screen data. If the time arrived, the data providingserver 301 proceeds to step SP222 to update the content selecting screendata, and proceeds to step SP223.

[0536] In step SP223, the data providing server 301 awaits thatobtaining request data is sent from the portable dedicated terminal 303.If the data providing server 301 receives the obtaining request data bythe receiving part 312, the data providing server 301 proceeds to stepSP224 to read the content selecting screen data from the contentdatabase 311 by the retrieving part 315, and sends this from the sendingpart 314 to the portable dedicated terminal 303, and then proceeds tostep SP225.

[0537] At this time, in step SP213, the portable dedicated terminal 303awaits that content selecting screen data is sent from the dataproviding server 301. If the portable dedicated terminal 303 receivesthe content selecting screen data by the receiving part 346, ittransmits the content selecting screen data to the reproducing part 343to display the picture of exterior of shop 350 being the contentselecting screen, and then proceeds to step SP214.

[0538] In step SP214, the portable dedicated terminal 303 starts asubroutine described later. If specifying information is entered on eachpicture forming the content selecting screen by the customer's operationof the operating part 341, the portable dedicated terminal 303 proceedsto step SP215.

[0539] In step SP215, the portable dedicated terminal 303 generatescontent specifying data by the request data generating part 344, andsends this from the sending part 345 to the data providing server 301,and then proceeds to step SP216.

[0540] At this time, in step SP225, the data providing server 301 startsa subroutine described later. The data providing server 301 properlyreads each picture data forming the content selecting screen data andcommercial data from the content database 311 by the retrieving part315, and sends this from the sending part 314 to the portable dedicatedterminal 303. Then, if the data providing server 301 receives contentspecifying data from the portable dedicated terminal 303, it proceeds tostep SP226.

[0541] In step SP226, the data providing server 301 retrieves contentdata in the content database 311 based on the content specifying data bythe retrieving part 315, and reads the specified content data, and thenproceeds to step SP227.

[0542] In step SP227, the data providing server 301 sends the contentdata read from the content database 311 from the sending part 314 to theportable dedicated terminal 303, and then proceeds to step SP228 tofinish the above processing by the data providing server 301.

[0543] On the other hand, in step SP216, the portable dedicated terminal303 awaits that the content data is sent from the data providing server301. If the portable dedicated terminal 303 receives the content data,it proceeds to step SP217 to record the content data in the recordingmedium 340 by the recording control part 347. Then, the portablededicated terminal 303 proceeds to step SP218 to finish the aboveprocessing by the portable dedicated terminal 303. Thus, the dataproviding server 301 finishes all the content providing processingprocedures by means of the content selecting screen data.

[0544] In this connection, as shown in FIG. 33A, the portable dedicatedterminal 303 starts a subroutine in step SP214 and enters step SP231. Inthe above step SP231 and the next step SP232, the portable dedicatedterminal 303 awaits that a picture specifying command is entered on eachpicture: the picture of exterior of shop 350 etc., forming the contentselecting screen displayed by the reproducing part 343 described abovewith reference to FIG. 29 by the customer's operation of the operatingpart 341 (that is, awaits that the entry-to-shop button 360 or the likeis selectively specified), and awaits that the picture of customer 366is moved to the specified coordinate position on the above picture (thepicture of first floor in shop 351 or the like).

[0545] In step SP231, if the picture specifying command is entered bymoving the picture of customer 366 and selectively specifying theentry-to-shop button 360 or the like on the picture of exterior of shop350 or the like by the customer's operation of the operating part 341,the portable dedicated terminal 303 proceeds to step SP233 to generatepicture request data representing the picture specifying command thathas been previously allocated to the above selectively specified buttonby the request data generating part 344, and sends this from the sendingpart 345 to the data providing server 301, and proceeds to step SP234.

[0546] At this time, as shown in FIG. 33B, the data providing server 301starts a subroutine in step SP225 and enters step SP251. In the abovestep SP251 and the next step SP252, the data providing server 301 awaitsthat the picture request data and specified coordinate position data aresent from the portable dedicated terminal 303. In step SP251, if thedata providing server 301 receives the picture request data from theportable dedicated terminal 303 by the receiving part 312, it proceedsto step SP253.

[0547] In step SP253, the data providing server 301 retrieves contentdata in the content database 311 based on the picture request data bythe retrieving part 315 and reads the specified picture data, and sendsthis from the sending part 314 to the portable dedicated terminal 303,and then proceeds to step SP254.

[0548] At this time, in step SP234, the portable dedicated terminal 303awaits the picture data from the data providing server 301. If theportable dedicated terminal 303 receives the picture data by thereceiving part 346, it proceeds to step SP235.

[0549] In step SP235, the portable dedicated terminal 303 transmits thereceived picture data to the reproducing part 343 to newly display apicture based on the picture data instead of the picture of the contentselecting screen being displayed at present. Then, the portablededicated terminal 303 proceeds to step SP236 to determine whether ornot the confirmation button 368 was selectively specified on theselection confirming screen 355.

[0550] Obtaining a negative result in this step SP236 means that theselection confirming screen 355 has not been displayed yet by thereproducing part 343 or that although it has been displayed, theconfirmation button 368 is not selectively specified because of in themiddle of entering to specify purchase or rental for the content data.At this time, the portable dedicated terminal 303 returns to step SP231.

[0551] In step SP232, the portable dedicated terminal 303 moves thepicture of customer 366 to the specified coordinate position on thepicture of first floor in shop 351 or the like according to thecustomer's operation of the operating part 341, and proceeds to stepSP237 to generate specified coordinate position data representing thespecified coordinate position by the request data generating part 344and send this from the sending part 345 to the data providing server301, and then proceeds to step SP238.

[0552] At this time, in step SP252, the data providing server 301 awaitsthe specified coordinate position data from the portable dedicatedterminal 303. If the data providing server 301 receives the specifiedcoordinate position data by the receiving part 312, it proceeds to stepSP255 to retrieve commercial data in the content database 311 based onthe specified coordinate position data by the retrieving part 315, readspecified commercial data, and send this from the sending part 314 tothe portable dedicated terminal 303, and then it proceeds to step SP254.

[0553] In step SP254, the data providing server 301 determines whetheror not it received the content specifying data from the portablededicated terminal 303, and sequentially repeats the processing loop ofsteps SP251-SP252-SP253-SP254SP255 until it receives the contentspecifying data, and sends the picture data and the commercial datacorresponding to the picture request data and the specified coordinateposition data sent from the portable dedicated terminal 303.

[0554] If the data providing server 301 receives the content specifyingdata in step SP254, it pulls out of this subroutine, and proceeds tostep SP226 in the content providing processing procedure in the dataproviding server 301 described above with reference to FIG. 32B.

[0555] On the other hand, in step SP238, the portable dedicated terminal303 awaits the commercial data from the data providing server 301. Ifthe portable dedicated terminal 303 receives the commercial data by thereceiving part 346, it proceeds to step SP239 to transmit the commercialdata to the reproducing part 343. Thereby, the customer views a part ofa content based on the commercial data and the content can be advertisedto the customer. Then, the portable dedicated terminal 303 proceeds tostep SP236.

[0556] Until an affirmative result is obtained in step SP236, theportable dedicated terminal 303 returns to step SP231 and sequentiallyrepeats the processing loop of the above stepsSP231-SP232-SP233-SP234-SP235-SP236-SP237-SP238-SP239. Thereby, theportable dedicated terminal 303 can make the customer select desiredcontent data by displaying each picture of the content selecting screenwhile properly switching the display while mixing the advertisement of acontent by the reproducing part 343.

[0557] Then, in step SP236, if the portable dedicated terminal 303confirms that the confirmation button 368 was selectively specified onthe selection confirming screen 355 of the content selecting screen, itpulls out of this subroutine and proceeds to step SP215 of the contentproviding processing procedure in the portable dedicated terminal 303described above with reference to FIG. 32A.

[0558] A content selecting screen customizing processing procedure bythe data providing server 301 and the portable dedicated terminal 303 inthis data providing system 300 will be collectively described. First, asshown in FIG. 34A, the portable dedicated terminal 303 enters routineRT22 from the start step and proceeds to step SP261.

[0559] In step SP261, the portable dedicated terminal 303 awaits thatthe customer enters a customizing request via the operating part 341. Ifthe customizing request is entered, the portable dedicated terminal 303proceeds to step SP262 to generate customizing request data by therequest data generating part 344, and sends this from the sending part345 to the data providing server 301, and then it proceeds to stepSP263.

[0560] At this time, as shown in FIG. 34B, the data providing server 301enters routine RT23 from the starting step and proceeds to step SP271 toawait the customizing request data from the portable dedicated terminal303. If the data providing server 301 receives the customizing requestdata by the receiving part 312, it proceeds to step SP272 to readcustomizing registering screen data from the content database 311 by theretrieving part 315, and sends this from the sending part 314 to theportable dedicated terminal 303, and then it proceeds to step SP273.

[0561] In step SP263, the portable dedicated terminal 303 awaits thecustomizing registering screen data from the data providing server 301.If the portable dedicated terminal 303 receives the customizingregistering screen data by the receiving part 346, it transmits this tothe reproducing part 343 to display a customizing registering screenbased on the customizing registering screen data, and proceeds to stepSP264.

[0562] In step SP264, the portable dedicated terminal 303 awaits thatscreen customizing information is entered on the customizing registeringscreen by the customer's operation of the operating part 341. If thescreen customizing information is entered, the portable dedicatedterminal 303 proceeds to step SP265 to generate screen customizing databy the request data generating part 344 and sends this from the sendingpart 345 to the data providing server 301, and then it proceeds to stepSP266.

[0563] At this time, in step SP273, the data providing server 301 awaitsthe screen customizing data from the portable dedicated terminal 303. Ifthe data providing server 301 receives the screen customizing data bythe receiving part 312, it proceeds to step SP274.

[0564] In step SP274, the data providing server 301 reads the contentselecting screen data from the content database 311 by the retrievingpart 315, performs processing on this based on the screen customizingdata, and sends thus obtained customized screen data from the sendingpart 314 to the portable dedicated terminal 303, and then it proceeds tostep SP275.

[0565] On the other hand, in step SP266, the portable dedicated terminal303 awaits the customized screen data from the data providing server301. If the portable dedicated terminal 303 receives the customizedscreen data by the receiving part 346, it sends this to the reproducingpart 343 to display a customized screen based on the customized screendata, and then it proceeds to step SP267.

[0566] In step SP267, as a result of that the customized screen wasshown to the customer by the reproducing part 343, if that the presentsetting is not desired customizing is entered by the customer via theoperating part 341, the portable dedicated terminal 303 generatesrecustomizing data to generate screen customizing information again bythe request data generating part 344, and sends thus generatedrecustomizing data from the sending part 345 to the data providingserver 301. Then, the portable dedicated terminal 303 returns to stepSP264, and repeats the processing loop of steps SP264-SP265-SP266-SP267again.

[0567] On the contrary, in step SP267, if that the present customizingis desired customizing is entered by the customer via the operating part341, the portable dedicated terminal 303 proceeds to step SP268 togenerate confirmation data by the request data generating part 344 andsend this from the sending part 345 to the data providing server 301,and it proceeds to step SP269 to finish the above processing in theportable dedicated terminal 303.

[0568] On the other hand, in step SP275, the data providing server 301receives the recustomizing data or the confirmation data from theportable dedicated terminal 303 by the receiving part 312. If the dataproviding server 301 receives the recustomizing data by the receivingpart 312, it returns to step SP273, and repeats the processing loop ofsteps SP273-SP274-SP275 again.

[0569] In step SP275, if the data providing server 301 receives theconfirmation data by the receiving part 312, it proceeds to step SP276to add the screen customizing data to the customer registrationinformation in the customer database 310 and update the customerregistration information by the updating part 313, and it proceeds tostep SP277 to finish the above processing in the data providing server301. Thus, all the customizing processing procedures in the dataproviding system 300 are finished.

[0570] A content providing processing procedure by means of thecustomized screen data by the data providing server 301 and the portablededicated terminal 303 in the data providing system 300 will becollectively described. Referring to FIG. 35A shown by adding the samereference numerals to corresponding parts in FIG. 32A, the portablededicated terminal 303 enters routine RT24 from the start step, proceedsto step SP211, sequentially executes the processing of the above stepSP211 and the next step SP212 to send obtaining request data to the dataproviding server 301, and then proceeds to step SP281.

[0571] At this time, referring to FIG. 35B shown by adding the samereference numerals to corresponding parts in FIG. 32B, the dataproviding server 301 enters routine RT25 from the start step, proceedsto step SP221, sequentially executes the processing of the above stepSP221 and the following step SP222 and step SP223 to receive theobtaining request data from the portable dedicated terminal 303, andthen it proceeds to step SP291.

[0572] In step SP291, the data providing server 301 reads the screencustomizing data added to the customer registration information on thecustomer who requested to obtain the content data from the customerdatabase 310 by the updating part 313, performs processing on thecontent selecting screen data read from the content database 311 basedon the screen customizing data by the retrieving part 315, and sendsthus obtained customized screen data from the sending part 314 to theportable dedicated terminal 303, and then proceeds to step SP225.

[0573] The data providing server 301 sequentially executes theprocessing of the above steps SP225 to SP227, and then proceeds to stepSP292 to finish the above processing in the data providing server 301.

[0574] On the other hand, in step SP281, the portable dedicated terminal303 awaits the customized screen data from the data providing server301. If the portable dedicated terminal 303 receives the customizedscreen data by the receiving part 346, it transmits the customizedscreen data to the reproducing part 343 to display for example thecustomized picture of the exterior of the shop 370, and then proceeds tostep SP214.

[0575] In step SP214, the portable dedicated terminal 303 sequentiallyexecutes the processing of steps SP214 to SP217, and proceeds to stepSP282 to finish the above processing in the portable dedicated terminal303. Thereby, all the content providing processing procedures by meansof the customized screen data in the data providing system 300 arefinished.

[0576] According to the above configuration, in this data providingsystem 300, if the data providing server 301 receives the customizingrequest data from the portable dedicated terminal 303 that is dedicatedto the agency and only can access the above data providing server 301,the data providing server 301 sends the customizing registering screendata to the portable dedicated terminal 303 according to that. If thescreen customizing information for the content selecting screen that wasentered on the customizing registering screen based on the customizingregistering screen data is sent from the above portable dedicatedterminal 303 to the data providing server 301 as screen customizingdata, the data providing server 301 receives and adds this to thecorresponding customer registration information in the customer database310, and registers the screen customizing data.

[0577] Then, in this data providing system 300, if the data providingserver 301 receives the obtaining request data from the portablededicated terminal 303 of the customer who registered the screencustomizing data by the data providing server 301, the data providingserver 301 reads the above screen customizing data from the customerdatabase 310, and the content selecting screen data from the contentdatabase 311, and performs processing on the content selecting screendata based on the screen customizing data, and sends thus obtainedcustomized screen data to the portable dedicated terminal 303. Thereby,the customer can select desired content data on the customized screenobtained by customizing the content selecting screen according to thecustomer's request.

[0578] In this data providing system 300, since the portable dedicatedterminal 303 only can access the data providing server 301 for providingcontent data, the content selecting screen can be easily customizedmatching with the customer's taste of content data (that is, genre).Thus, the usability of the content selecting screen can be remarkablyimproved.

[0579] Moreover, in this data providing system 300, the contentselecting screen previously generated by mixing the three-dimensionalvirtual reality space pictures that represent the outside/inside of theshop of the agency is provided from the data providing server 301 to theportable dedicated terminal 303 so that the customer can easily selectcontent data. The content selecting screen can be customized accordingto the customer's request. Thereby, the usability of the above contentselecting screen can be further improved.

[0580] Furthermore, in this data providing system 300, if the dataproviding server 301 obtains the screen customizing data from theportable dedicated terminal 303, it customizes the content selectingscreen data based on the screen customizing data, and the customer canconfirm this on the portable dedicated terminal 303. Thereby, thecontent selecting screen can be properly customized as the customerdesired.

[0581] In this data providing system 300, the portable dedicatedterminal 303 only can access the data providing server 301 for providingcontent data, and the content selecting screen which will be provided tothe portable dedicated terminal 303 when the customer requested toobtain content data can be customized according to the customer'srequest. Thereby, the customer who uses the portable dedicated terminal303 for the purpose of obtaining content data can remarkably easily usethe data providing system 300.

[0582] As a result, in this data providing system 300, the percentage ofthe customers who use the data providing server 301 also being theagency to obtain content data can be remarkably improved.

[0583] Furthermore, in this data providing system 300, the customer canuse such portable dedicated terminal 303 only accessible the dataproviding server 301 by either of purchase and rental. Thereby, thecustomer who does not own a device for using the Internet, the customerwho although owns such device, is inexperienced in operations forconnecting to the Internet, and the customer who almost does not have aknowledge of the Internet, can easily obtain content data from the dataproviding server 301 by the portable dedicated terminal 303.

[0584] According to the above configuration, the data providing server301 sends the customizing registering screen data according to thecustomizing request data that was sent from the portable dedicatedterminal 303 dedicated to the agency and only accessible the above dataproviding server 301 to the portable dedicated terminal 303, and thedata providing server 301 registers the screen customizing data sentfrom the above portable dedicated terminal 303 in the customer database310. Then, the data providing server 301 performs processing on thecontent selecting screen data based on the screen customizing data readfrom the customer database 310 according to the obtaining request datasent from the portable dedicated terminal 303, and sends thus obtainedcustomized screen data to the portable dedicated terminal 303. Thereby,the content selecting screen can be easily customized matching with thecustomer's taste, and the usability of the above content selectingscreen can be remarkably improved. Thus, a data providing system inwhich the customer can easily select content data can be accomplished.

[0585] Note that, in the aforementioned sixth embodiment, it has dealtwith the case where the data providing server 301 is installed in theagency. However, this invention is not only limited to this but alsoprovided that the data providing server 301 can be connected to theInternet, the place to install the data providing server 301 may not beparticularly prescribed. And by providing a database for managing pluralagencies in the data providing server 301 and by previously storingtheir agency IDs peculiar to each of them, content selecting screen dataand customizing registering screen data in the above database by makinga correspondence, when the portable dedicated terminal 303 accessed, thedata providing server 301 may send content selecting screen data andcustomizing registering screen data for an agency corresponding to theportable dedicated terminal 303 or for an agency arbitrary selected tothe above portable dedicated terminal 303.

[0586] In the aforementioned sixth embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where in the data providing server 301, the content selectingscreen data is generated by the developmental tool that was providedfrom the content server. However, this invention is not only limited tothis but also content selecting screen data may be generated byentrusting it to a company for generating content selecting screen dataor the like from the data providing server 301.

[0587] In the aforementioned sixth embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where the content selecting screen data representing the inside ofthe shop of the agency by three-dimensional virtual reality spacepictures is provided from the data providing server 301. However, thisinvention is not only limited to this but also content selecting screendata generated in a home page by listing the titles of many content dataor the like may be provided.

[0588] As shown in FIG. 36, in a data providing system 390 for providingcontent selecting screen data generated in a home page, as screencustomizing data D10 to be sent from a portable dedicated terminal 391to a data providing server 392, customizing such as the rearrangement oftunes (i.e., content data) by an arbitrary artist (or genre) in dateorder, and the specifying of background color of the content selectingscreen data can be performed. If the data providing server 392 receivesobtaining request data from the portable dedicated terminal 391 after itregistered the received screen customizing data D10 in a customerdatabase 393, the data providing server 392 performs processing on thecontent selecting screen data in the customer database 393 based on thescreen customizing data D10 by a retrieving part 397, and sends thusobtained customized screen data D11 to the portable dedicated terminal391.

[0589] In this connection, in the data providing system 390, if the dataproviding server 392 receives the screen customizing data D1O, the dataproviding server 392 determines whether or not satisfactory amount ofcontent data for the request by the screen customizing data D10 has beenstored in a content database 394. If it has not, the data providingserver 392 generates content obtaining request data D12 and send this toa content server 395, so that the content server 395 reads specifiedcontent data from the content database 396 and supplies this to the dataproviding server 392. Thereby, the content selecting screen data can becustomized while further surely satisfying the customer's request. Notethat, such supply of content data from the content server 395 to thedata providing server 392 also can be applied to the aforementionedsixth embodiment.

[0590] Furthermore, in the aforementioned sixth embodiment, it has dealtwith the case where the data providing server 301 simply obtains manycontent data provided from a content server and stores this in thecontent database 311. However, this invention is not only limited tothis but also the data providing server 301 may obtain compressedcontent data from the content server, stores this in the contentdatabase 311 as it has been compressed, and provides this to theportable dedicated terminal 303. Thereby, the content database 311 inthe data providing server 301 and the recording medium 340 in theportable dedicated terminal 303 that have a limited capacity can beeffectively used to record content data.

[0591] In this connection, as shown in FIG. 37, in the content server,not only many content data but also many data tables 400 in which theabove content data are represented by classified by genre have beenstored in the content database. If the genre of content data to betreated for providing is specified from data providing servers and/oragencies by preceding the start of the distribution of content data,content data in the specified genre are selected from the above datatable at random, and thus selected content data group “a” are providedto the different data providing servers and/or agencies, respectively.Thereby, content data in which a part of or all of them are different inthe same genre can be provided to the data providing servers and/or theagencies. As a result, the customer can use many data providing serversdealing in different content data in the same genre.

[0592] (8) Seventh Embodiment

[0593]FIG. 38 shows a data providing system 500 according to a seventhembodiment. A portable dedicated terminal 502 that corresponds to theportable dedicated terminals 7A to 7N described above with reference toFIGS. 1 to 3 and only can accessible a data providing server 501, and apackage providing server 503 that corresponds to the sales company 5described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 are connected to a dataproviding server 501 corresponding to the agencies 4A to 4N describedabove with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, respectively, on the Internet 504.

[0594] The data providing server 501 has a customer database 510, acontent database 511 and a packaged media database 512. The customer canuse the data providing server 501 by that customer registrationinformation composed of customer information such as the name, address,and account number, and a customer ID issued to the customer are storedin the customer database 510 and the customer is registered.

[0595] In the content database 511, content data composed of many singletunes has been stored as content data that will be provided to thecustomer, and a data table formed by listing content additionalinformation composed of a content ID peculiar to each of the abovecontent data, title (the title of tune), selling price, rental price,etc., has been stored.

[0596] In the data providing server 501, content data being a singletune is equivalent to packaged media storing the same content data, andthey are equivalently exchangeable. According to this, in the packagedmedia database 512, a data table formed by listing the title of thecontent data being a single tune, the title of the packaged mediastoring the above content data being a single CD, the selling price ofthe above packaged media, package identification information peculiar topackaged media (hereinafter, this is referred to as package ID), etc. bymaking a correspondence.

[0597] For instance, the registered customer sends specifyinginformation on content data wanting to rent from the portable dedicatedterminal 502 (purchased/rented by the customer) as content specifyingdata, the data providing server 501 receives this by a receiving part515 and takes this in a receiving data judging part 516.

[0598] Here, as shown in FIGS. 38 and 39, in the content specifying dataD20 sent from the portable dedicated terminal 502, information such asthe customer's name, customer ID, password, title of the content dataD21 that the customer wants to rent, equivalent exchange informationrepresenting whether or not equivalent exchange had performed, rentalterm, and method of payment for rental charge is included.

[0599] In this connection, the customer ID was issued in the customerregistration in the data providing server 501 and has been stored in theportable dedicated terminal 502. The customer ID will be stored invarious data to be sent from the above portable dedicated terminal 502to identify the customer.

[0600] The equivalent exchange information shows for example, “0” in thecase where the customer's purpose is to obtain the content data D21 andthe customer does not hope equivalent exchange. On the contrary, in thecase where the customer hopes equivalent exchange, the equivalentexchange information shows “1”, for example.

[0601] The data providing server 501 identifies the above contentspecifying data D20 as data to obtain the content data D21 based on theequivalent exchange information stored in the content specifying dataD20 by the receiving data judging part 516.

[0602] Then, the data providing server 501 retrieves a data table in thecontent database 511 based on the title of the content data D21, changesthe title to a content ID, generates read-of-content control data D22,and sends this to a content ID extracting part 517, by the receivingdata judging part 516.

[0603] In this connection, when in generating the read-of-contentcontrol data D22 from the content specifying data D20 by the receivingdata judging part 516, the data providing server 501 retrieves thecustomer registration information in the customer database 510 based onthe customer ID, and detects the coded name of the customer storedtherein by a customer updating/retrieving part 518. As the method ofpayment for rental charges, if credit has been specified, the dataproviding server 501 detects the account number of the customer, storesthus detected customer's coded name and account number in theread-of-content control data D22 by the receiving data judging part 516.

[0604] The data providing server 501 extracts the content ID from theread-of-content control data D22 by the content ID extracting part 517,and transmits this to a content retrieving part 519 with theread-of-content control data D22. The data providing server 501retrieves the content data D21 in the content database 511 and readsthis by the above content retrieving part 519, and transmits the readcontent data D21 to a sending data generating part 520 with theread-of-content control data D22.

[0605] The data providing server 501 adds copy history information tothe read-of-content control data D22, generates header data D23, andadds the header data D23 to the content data D21 by the sending datagenerating part 520, and then sends this from a sending part 521 to theportable dedicated terminal 502 via the Internet 504. Thereby, thecustomer can rent the content data D21 that he/she specified.

[0606] In this connection, the data providing server 501 has anaccounting part not shown. In the case where the customer specifiedpayment for rental charges by credit, the data providing server 501executes accounting by that accounting part before the specified contentdata D21 is sent to the portable dedicated terminal 502. The dataproviding server 501 generates accounting data based on the rentalcharges according to the term to rent the content data D21 (that is,charge amount to the customer), the account number of the customer inthe customer registration information, and the account number of, forexample, an agency following the data providing server 501.

[0607] As a result of that the data providing server 501 sent theaccount data from the sending part 521 to a specified settlementprocessing server (not shown) via the Internet 504, if the completion ofelectronical settlement processing based on the account data is notifiedfrom the above settlement processing server, the data providing server501 adds information such as the title and the content ID of the contentdata D21, the amount that the customer paid for the rental, to thecustomer registration information in the customer database 510, andupdates the customer registration information. The data providing server501 can grasp the information on the content data D21 rented by thecustomer, the state of payment for the above rental, or the like, by thecustomer registration information.

[0608] At this time, the data providing server 501 also notifies thesending data generating part 520 of the notification received from thesettlement processing server, and stores the information on the amountthat the customer paid for the rental of the content data D21 in theheader data D23 instead of the account number by the above sending datagenerating part 520. In this manner, if the customer completes thepayment for the rental charges, the data providing server 501 sends thecontent data D21 with the header data D23 to the portable dedicatedterminal 502 for rental

[0609] In this manner, in the data providing system 500, the contentdata D21 is rented to the customer from the data providing server 501 bymeans of the portable dedicated terminal 502. If the rental term of theabove content data D21 is finished, and the customer brings thatportable dedicated terminal 502 into the agency, the agency erases thecontent data D21 for return.

[0610] In this data providing system 500, although the rental term haspassed, if the customer does not bring the portable dedicated terminal502 into the agency, that content data D21 is erased or made into theirreproducible state for return by the internal mechanism of the aboveportable dedicated terminal 502.

[0611] By the way, if equivalent exchange request data D30 forrequesting the equivalent exchange of the content data owned by thecustomer by rental (single tune) for packaged media (single CD) is sentfrom the portable dedicated terminal 502, the data providing server 501receives this by the receiving part 515, and takes this in the receivingdata judging part 516.

[0612] Here, as shown in FIGS. 38 and 40, in the equivalent exchangerequest data D30, the equivalent exchange information is composed of thecustomer's name, customer ID, password, title of the content data D21that the customer specified for the equivalent exchange, and whether ornot being an equivalent exchange (in this case, “1” is shown).

[0613] The data providing server 501 judges the equivalent exchangerequest data D30 to be data for requesting an equivalent exchange of thecontent data D21 for packaged media based on the equivalent exchangeinformation included in the equivalent exchange request data D30 by thereceiving data judging part 516, and sends the equivalent exchangerequest data D30 to a customer ID extracting part 525.

[0614] The data providing server 501 extracts the customer ID from theequivalent exchange request data D30 by the customer ID extracting part525, and transmits this to a customer updating/retrieving part 518 withthe above equivalent exchange request data D30.

[0615] The data providing server 501 retrieves the customer registrationinformation in the customer database 510 based on the customer ID by thecustomer updating/retrieving part 518, and based on thus obtainedcustomer registration information, detects the customer's coded name,content ID of the content data D21, payment method of the rental chargesfor the content data D21, whether or not the above rental charges wasalready paid, and whether or not the customer did not commit illegalityon the obtaining of the content data D21 in the past, and transmits thedetected result to a judging part 526 with the equivalent exchangerequest data D30.

[0616] The data providing server 501 judges whether or not theequivalent exchange should be permitted based on the detected result bythe judging part 526.

[0617] Here, if the customer already paid the rental charges for thecontent data D21 and especially did not commit illegality, the dataproviding server 501 permits the equivalent exchange and stores thedetected data, the customer's coded name, the content ID of the contentdata D21, the paying method of the rental charges, and the amount thatthe customer practically paid, in the equivalent exchange request dataD30, and generates equivalent exchange processing data D31 by thejudging part 526, and transmits this to a value judging part 527.

[0618] The data providing server 501 retrieves a data table in thepackaged media database 512 according to the retrieval conditionspreviously set in a package retrieving part 528, detects packaged media(single CD) storing the same tune as the content data D21 owned by thecustomer, as exchangeable packaged media, and reads the title, theselling price and the package ID of thus detected packaged media by thevalue judging part 527.

[0619] Then, the data providing server 501 compares the rental chargesthat the customer paid for the content data D21 (that is, the obtainingprice of the content data D21) to the selling price of the detectedpackaged media and computing their balance by the value judging part527. At this time, for instance, if the selling price of the packagedmedia is more expensive than the obtaining price of the content dataD21, the term of the equivalent exchange that the customer pays theirbalance is set to make the exchange values equivalent.

[0620] The data providing server 501 stores the title and the package IDof the packaged media, and the term of the equivalent exchange in theequivalent exchange request data D30, and generates equivalent exchangeterm showing data D32, by the value judging part 527.

[0621] The data providing server 501 sends the equivalent exchange termshowing data D32 from the sending part 521 to the portable dedicatedterminal 502 via the Internet 504 to notify the customer of that thecontent data D21 can be equivalently exchanged for the packaged media,and that if the customer equivalently exchanges the content data D21 forthe packaged media, he/she must pay the shown balance as the term.

[0622] As a result, if exchange acceptance data representing that thecustomer accepts the equivalent exchange is sent from the portablededicated terminal 502, the data providing server 501 receives this bythe receiving part 515, takes this in the receiving data judging part516, and transmits this to the judging part 526. The data providingserver 501 confirms that the customer accepted the equivalent exchangebased on the exchange acceptance data by the judging part 526.

[0623] Then, the data providing server 501 generates package deliveryordering information from the package ID of the packaged media to beequivalently exchanged and delivered to the customer, the customer'sname, the customer's address, etc., based on the customer registrationinformation by the judging part 526, and transmits this to the sendingdata generating part 520.

[0624] The data providing server 501 generates package delivery orderingdata representing the package delivery ordering information by thesending data generating part 520, and sends this from the sending part521 to the package providing server 503 via the Internet 504, to orderthe delivery of the packaged media to the customer.

[0625] As a result, if delivery arrangement completion data representingthat the arrangement of the delivery has completed is sent from thepackage providing server 503 via the Internet 504, the data providingserver 501 receives this by the receiving part 515, and transmits thisfrom the receiving data judging part 516 to the judging part 526.

[0626] At this time, as the paying method of the balance shown in theexchange acceptance data, if the customer specified the payment bycredit, the data providing server 501 performs accounting by theaccounting part similarly to the aforementioned case, and then receivesthe notification of the completion of the electronical settlement fromthe settlement processing server.

[0627] The data providing server 501 transmits the equivalent exchangeapproval information representing the approval for the equivalentexchange and the delivery method of the packaged media from the judgingpart 526 to the sending data generating part 520 to generate equivalentexchange approval data, and sends this from the sending part 521 to theportable dedicated terminal 502 via the Internet 504 to notify thecustomer of that the equivalent exchange was approved.

[0628] Then, the data providing server 501 adds information such as thecontent ID of the content data D21 to be equivalently exchanged, thepackage ID of the packaged media, whether or not the customer paid thebalance, and the balance, to the customer registration information inthe customer database 510, updates the customer registrationinformation, and stores the history of the equivalent exchange, by thejudging part 526 via the customer updating/retrieving part 518.

[0629] Thereby, the content data owned by the customer is erased fromthe portable dedicated terminal 502 (or is made into irreproduciblestate) for return, and the packaged media is delivered to the customer.In this manner, in the data providing server 501, as shown in FIGS. 41Aand 41B, the content data D21 owned by the customer can be equivalentlyexchanged for the packaged media storing the content data D21 thatshould be normally purchased at the selling price.

[0630] In this connection, in the case where the customer specifiedpayment by cash for the balance between the selling price of thepackaged media and the obtaining price of the content data, the customertransfers the balance to the bank account. And in the case where thecustomer specified payment by prepaid card, the customer uses a requestterminal or the like.

[0631] When the data providing server 501 received the equivalentexchange request data D30 from the portable dedicated terminal 502, ifthe customer had not paid the rental charges for the content data D21specified for equivalent exchange, or if the customer had committed anyillegality in the past, the data providing server 501 forbids thecustomer the equivalent exchange, and sends equivalent exchangeforbidding information representing the forbidding of the aboveequivalent exchange to the sending data generating part 520 by thejudging part 526.

[0632] The data providing server 501 generates equivalent exchangeforbidding data representing that equivalent exchange forbiddinginformation by the sending data generating part 520, and sends this fromthe sending part 521 to the portable dedicated terminal 502 via theInternet 504 to notify the customer of that the data providing server501 cannot permit the equivalent exchange.

[0633] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 38, if the customer entersspecifying information on the content data wanting to rent by anoperating part 540, the portable dedicated terminal 502 judges thespecifying information as information for obtaining content data forexample, according to the format of the specifying information, and addsequivalent exchange information showing “0” to that specifyinginformation by an operational information judging part 541, andtransmits this to a request data generating part 542.

[0634] The portable dedicated terminal 502 generates content specifyingdata D20 representing that specifying information including the customerID by the request data generating part 542, and sends this from asending part 543 to the data providing server 501 via the Internet 504.

[0635] As a result, if the content data D21 to which the header data D23has been added is sent from the data providing server 501, the portablededicated terminal 502 receives this by a receiving part 544, andtransmits this to a recording control part 546 via a judging part 545.The portable dedicated terminal 502 records that content data D21 andheader data D23 in a recording medium 547 by the above recording controlpart 546. In this manner, the customer can rent the desired content dataD21.

[0636] Thereafter, if the customer enters a reproducing command with theoperating part 540, the portable dedicated terminal 502 reproduces thecontent data D21 from the recording medium 547 by a reproducing controlpart 548, and supplies thus reproduced content data D21 to a reproducingpart 549 composed of a display control part, a display part, a speaker,etc. Thereby, the customer can enjoy the content such as a single tune.

[0637] In this connection, the portable dedicated terminal 502 managesthe rental term of the content data D21 by detecting it from the headerdata D23 by the recording control part 546 and the reproducing controlpart 548. If the customer does not bring the portable dedicated terminal502 into the agency although the rental term of the above content dataD21 has finished, the portable dedicated terminal 502 erases the contentdata D21 from the recording medium 547, or makes into a state where thecontent data D21 cannot be reproduced for return, by the reproducingcontrol part 548.

[0638] Furthermore, if the customer enters an equivalent exchangerequest in which the content data D21 is specified for equivalentexchange by the operating part 540, the portable dedicated terminal 502judges that the equivalent exchange request is a request forequivalently exchanging the content data D21 owned by the customer for(packaged media by the format of that equivalent exchange request, andadds equivalent exchange information showing “1” to the above equivalentexchange request by the operational information judging part 541, andsupplies this to the request data generating part 542.

[0639] In this case, the portable dedicated terminal 502 generatesequivalent exchange request data D30 representing that equivalentexchange request including the customer ID by the request datagenerating part 542, and sends this from the sending part 543 to thedata providing server 501 via the Internet 504.

[0640] As a result, if the equivalent exchange term showing data D32 issent from the data providing server 501 via the Internet 504, theportable dedicated terminal 502 receives this by the receiving part 544,and transmits this to the reproducing part 549 via the judging part 545,and notifies the customer of the title of exchangeable packaged mediaand that the customer must pay the balance occurred by the equivalentexchange as the term of the equivalent exchange.

[0641] If the customer approves the equivalent exchange via theoperating part 540, the portable dedicated terminal 502 adds theequivalent exchange information representing “1” to the approvalinformation, and transmits this to the request data generating part 542,by the operational information judging part 541. The portable dedicatedterminal 502 generates exchange approval data representing the aboveapproval information by the above request data generating part 542, andsends this from the sending part 543 to the data providing server 501via the Internet 504.

[0642] If equivalent exchange permitting data is sent from the dataproviding server 501 via the Internet 504, the portable dedicatedterminal 502 receives this by the receiving part 544, and transmits thisfrom the judging part 545 to the reproducing part 549, and notifies thecustomer of that the equivalent exchange was permitted, and the deliverymethod of the packaged media or the like.

[0643] In this connection, if the equivalent exchange forbidding data issent from the data providing server 501 via the Internet 504, theportable dedicated terminal 502 receives this by the receiving part 544,and transmits this to the reproducing part 549 via the judging part 545,and notifies the customer of that the equivalent exchange was notpermitted.

[0644] If the package delivery ordering data is sent from the dataproviding server 501 via the Internet 504, the package providing server503 receives this by a receiving part 560, transmits this to a packageID extracting part 561 to extract the package ID from the packagedelivery ordering data, and supplies this to a package retrieving part562 with the package delivery ordering data.

[0645] Then, the package providing server 503 retrieves packaged data ina stock management database 563 according to the package ID, and detectsthe stock of the packaged media specified by the data providing server501 and the keeping position on a package shelf not shown by the packageretrieving part 562, and transmits information on the above detectedkeeping position to a package taking-out control part 564 with thepackage delivery ordering data.

[0646] After the specified packaged media is taken out of the packagedmedia keeping shelf based on the information on the keeping position bythe package taking-out control part 564, the package providing server503 packs that extracted packaged media and instructs a delivery centernot shown to deliver this to the address of the customer shown in thepackage delivery ordering data by a packing and shipment instructingpart 565, and then, sends delivery arrangement completion data from asending part 566 to the data providing server 501.

[0647] In this manner, in the data providing system 500, as shown inFIG. 42, if the equivalent exchange between the customer and the dataproviding server 501 is permitted, the package providing server 503delivers the packaged media specified in the equivalently exchanged tothe customer.

[0648] Here, equivalent exchange processing procedures by the dataproviding server 501, the portable dedicated terminal 502 and thepackage providing server 503 in the data providing system 500 will becollectively described. As shown in FIGS. 43A and 44A, first, theportable dedicated terminal 502 enters routine RT30 from the startingstep, and proceeds to step SP351.

[0649] In step SP351, the portable dedicated terminal 502 awaits thatthe customer enters specifying information for renting the content dataD21 by the operating part 540. If the specifying information is entered,the portable dedicated terminal 502 proceeds to step SP352 to generatecontent specifying data D20 by the request data generating part 542, andsends this from the sending part 543 to the data providing server 501,and then proceeds to step SP353.

[0650] At this time, as shown in FIGS. 43B and 44B, the data providingserver 501 enters routine RT31 from the start step, and proceeds to stepSP371. In step SP371, the data providing server 501 awaits the contentspecifying data D20 from the portable dedicated terminal 502. If thedata providing server 501 receives the content specifying data D20 bythe receiving part 515, it proceeds to step SP372.

[0651] In step SP372, the data providing server 501 reads the specifiedcontent data D21 from the content database 511 by the content retrievingpart 519, and sends this from the sending part 521 to the portablededicated terminal 502, and then proceeds to step SP373.

[0652] Here, in step SP353, the portable dedicated terminal 502 awaitsthe content data D21 from the data providing server 501. If the portablededicated terminal 502 receives the content data D21 by the receivingpart 544, it proceeds to step SP354 to store that content data D21 inthe recording medium 547 by the recording control part 546, and proceedsto step SP355. Thereby, the data providing server 501 rents thespecified content data D21 to the customer. The content data D21 will bereproduced according to the customer's request. Thus, the customer canenjoy a content based on the content data D21.

[0653] In step SP355, the portable dedicated terminal 502 awaits thatthe customer enters an equivalent exchange request by the operating part540. Until the equivalent exchange request is entered, the portablededicated terminal 502 returns to step SP351 and repeats the processingloop of the following steps SP352-SP353-SP354-SP355.

[0654] In step SP355, if the equivalent exchange request is entered bythe customer via the operating part 540, the portable dedicated terminal502 proceeds to step SP356 to generate the equivalent exchange requestdata D30 by the request data generating part 542, and sends this fromthe sending part 543 to the data providing server 501, and then proceedsto step SP357.

[0655] In step SP373, the data providing server 501 determines whetheror not the equivalent exchange request data D30 was sent from theportable dedicated terminal 502. Until the data providing server 501receives the above equivalent exchange request data D30, the dataproviding server 501 returns to step SP371 and repeats the processingloop of the following steps SP372 and SP373. In step SP373, if the dataproviding server 501 receives the equivalent exchange request data D30from the portable dedicated terminal 502 by the receiving part 515, itproceeds to step SP374.

[0656] In step SP374, the data providing server 501 checks the usinghistory of the above customer who requested the equivalent exchangebased on the customer registration information, and judges whether topermit or forbid the equivalent exchange by the judging part 526.

[0657] Obtaining a negative result in this step SP374 means that therental charges of the content data D21 that the customer for theequivalent exchange has not been paid yet or that the above customermight illegally use the equivalent exchange because he/she committed anyillegality in the past. At this time, the data providing server 501proceeds to step SP375 to send the equivalent exchange forbidding datagenerated by the judging part 526, from the sending part 521 to theportable dedicated terminal 502 by the sending data generating part 520.Then, the data providing server 501 proceeds to step SP376 to finish theabove processing by the data providing server 501.

[0658] On the contrary, obtaining an affirmative result in step SP374means that the customer will not illegally use the equivalent exchangebecause he/she already paid the rental charges for the content data D21that the customer specified for the equivalent exchange and he/she hasnot been done any illegality in the past. At this time, the dataproviding server 501 proceeds to step SP377.

[0659] In step SP377, the data providing server 501 generates theequivalent exchange term showing data D32 representing the term to makethe exchange value between the content data D21 owned by the customerand the packaged media equal in a equivalent exchange by the valuejudging part 527, and sends this from the sending part 521 to theportable dedicated terminal 502, and then proceeds to step SP378.

[0660] At this time, in step SP375, the portable dedicated terminal 502awaits the equivalent exchange term showing data D32 or the equivalentexchange forbidding data from the data providing server 501. If theportable dedicated terminal 502 receives either data by the receivingpart 544, it proceeds to step SP358.

[0661] In step SP358, the portable dedicated terminal 502 determineswhether the data received by the receiving part 544 is the equivalentexchange term showing data D32 or the equivalent exchange forbiddingdata by the judging part 545. If the above received data is theequivalent exchange forbidding data, the portable dedicated terminal 502proceeds to step SP359 to finish the processing by the above portablededicated terminal 502.

[0662] In step SP358, if the received data is the equivalent exchangeterm showing data D32, the portable dedicated terminal 502 proceeds tostep SP360 to send the exchange permitting data from the sending part543 to the data providing server 501 according to the customer'soperation of the operating part 540, and proceeds to step SP361.

[0663] In step SP378, the data providing server 501 awaits the exchangeapproval data from the portable dedicated terminal 502. If the dataproviding server 501 receives the exchange permitting data by thereceiving part 515, it proceeds to step SP379 to generate packagedelivery ordering data to deliver the packaged media to the customer bythe judging part 526, and sends this from the sending part 521 to thepackage providing server 503, and then proceeds to step SP380.

[0664] At this time, as shown in FIGS. 43C and 44C, the packageproviding server 503 enters routine RT32 from the start step, andproceeds to step SP391. In step SP391, the package providing server 503awaits the package delivery ordering data from the data providing server501. If the package providing server 503 receives the package deliveryordering data by the receiving part 560, it proceeds to step SP392.

[0665] In step SP392, the package providing server 503 confirms thekeeping position of the specified packaged media on the package keepingshelf based on the package delivery ordering data by the packageretrieving part 562, and proceeds to step SP393 to take the specifiedpackaged media out of the package keeping shelf by the packagetaking-out control part 564, and then it proceeds to step SP394.

[0666] In step SP394, the package providing server 503 instructs thedelivery center to pack and deliver the packaged media to the customerby the packing and shipment instructing part 565, and proceeds to stepSP395 to send delivery arrangement completion data from the sending part566 to the data providing server 501. Then, the package providing server503 proceeds to step SP396 to finish the above processing by the packageproviding server 503.

[0667] At this time, in step SP380, the data providing server 501 awaitsthe delivery arrangement completion data from the package providingserver 503. If the data providing server 501 receives the deliveryarrangement completion data by the receiving part 515, it proceeds tostep SP381 to generate the equivalent exchange permitting data by thejudging part 526 and send this from the sending part 521 to the portablededicated terminal 502. Then, the data providing server 501 proceeds tostep SP376 to finish the above processing by the data providing server501.

[0668] On the other hand, in step SP361, the portable dedicated terminal502 awaits the equivalent exchange permitting data from the dataproviding server 501. If the portable dedicated terminal 502 receivesthe equivalent exchange permitting data by the receiving part 544, itnotifies the customer of that the equivalent exchange was permitted bythe reproducing part 549. Then, the portable dedicated terminal 502proceeds to step SP359 to finish the above processing by the portablededicated terminal 502. Thus, all the equivalent exchange processingprocedures in the data providing system 500 are finished.

[0669] According to the above configuration, in this data providingsystem 500, if the content specifying data for requesting the rental ofthe content data D21 is sent from the portable dedicated terminal 502,the data providing server 501 sends the specified content data D21 tothe portable dedicated terminal 502 responding to the request forstoring. In this manner, the content data D21 is rented to the customerby means of the portable dedicated terminal 502.

[0670] In this data providing system 500, if the equivalent exchangerequest data D30 of the content data D21 (single tune) owned by thecustomer by rental is sent from the portable dedicated terminal 502, thedata providing server 501 detects packaged media (single CD) storing thesame content data D21 that can be equivalently exchanged for the contentdata D21, and computes the balance of the selling price of the packagedmedia and the obtaining price of the content data owned by the customerto make the exchange value between them equal.

[0671] In this manner, in the data providing system 500, the dataproviding server 501 sends the equivalent exchange term showing data D32showing the title of the exchangeable packaged media, and the balancethat the customer must pay for the equivalent exchange as the term ofthe equivalent exchange, to the portable dedicated terminal 502.

[0672] As a result, in the data providing system 500, if the equivalentexchange approval data representing that the customer approves theequivalent exchange is sent from the portable dedicated terminal 502,the data providing server 501 makes the customer pay the balanceoccurred by the equivalent exchange, and erases the content data ownedby the customer from the portable dedicated terminal 502 for return, anddelivers the packaged media to the customer. In this manner, theexchange value between the content data D21 owned by the customer andthe packaged media storing the content data D21 is made to be equal, andthe content data D21 is exchanged for the packaged media.

[0673] Accordingly, in this data providing system 500, in the case wherethe customer renting the content data D21 by means of the portablededicated terminal 502 wants to enjoy that content data D21 byreproducing by another device, or the customer is anxious about thesafekeeping of the content data D21 by the portable dedicated terminal502 and wants the safekeeping by packaged media, the exchange valuebetween the above content data D21 and the packaged media is made to beequal, and the content data D21 can be provided to the customer by aminimum investment by exchanging the content data D21 for the packagedmedia.

[0674] As a result, in this data providing system 500, the customer canremarkably easily obtain the content data D21 distributed on theInternet.

[0675] In this data providing system 500, such equivalent exchangebetween the content data D21 and the packaged media is executed. Thus,the customer can remarkably easily use that system.

[0676] Furthermore, in this data providing system 500, only the customerwho uses the portable dedicated terminal 502 only accessible the dataproviding server 501 can use the equivalent exchange. Thereby, it can besurely prevented that the above customer illegally uses the equivalentexchange by means of content data that was obtained from a server otherthan the data providing server 501 at a price different from theproviding price by the data providing server 501, or that the customerillegally uses the equivalent exchange by means of content data that wasdownloaded from packaged media.

[0677] According to the above configuration, the data providing server501 sends the specified content data D21 according to the rental requestfrom the customer's portable dedicated terminal 502 to the portablededicated terminal 502 for storing and rental. Then, an exchange of therented content data D21 for packaged media is requested from theportable dedicated terminal 502, the data providing server 501 detectsexchangeable packaged media, and shows a term to make the exchange valuebetween the packaged media and the content data D21 owned by thecustomer equal. Thereby, even if the customer obtained the content databy distribution, the customer can exchange his/her content data D21 forthe packaged media by a minimum investment. Thereby, the customer canremarkably easily obtain the content data D21 distributed on theInternet 504. Thus, a data providing system that can popularize thedistribution of content data can be accomplished.

[0678] Note that, in the aforementioned seventh embodiment, it has dealtwith the case where the content data D21 rented by the customer isequivalently exchanged for the packaged media by the data providingserver 501. However, this invention is not only limited to this but alsocontent data sold to the customer may be equivalently exchanged forpackaged media by the data providing server 501.

[0679] In this connection, in the aforementioned seventh embodiment,since the content data D21 being rented is equivalently exchanged forthe packaged media, the above content data D21 is erased for return whenthe rental term passed. However, in the case where content data sold tothe customer is equivalently exchanged for packaged media storing thesame content data, it can be said that the above customer does notillegally own different content data. Therefore, the content dataequivalently exchanged for the packaged media may be erased, or thecustomer may hold that as it is.

[0680] In the aforementioned seventh embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where the packaged media specified for the equivalent exchange isdelivered to the customer by the package providing server 503. However,this invention is not only limited to this but also the packaged mediamay be directly handed to the customer at the agency when the customercame to return the content data D21.

[0681] Furthermore, in the aforementioned seventh embodiment, it hasdealt with the case where the content data D21 being a single tune ownedby the customer is equivalently exchanged for the packaged media being asingle CD. However, this invention is not only limited to this but alsothe content data D21 being a single tune may be equivalently exchangedfor packaged media being an album CD.

[0682] In the aforementioned seventh embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where the musical content data and the musical packaged media wereequivalently exchanged (a single tune and a single CD). However, thisinvention is not only limited to this but also various content dataother than that, such as a motion picture and a book can be adapted.Thereby, the convenience and the versatility of a data providing systemcan be remarkably improved, and the distribution of content data can befurther popularized.

[0683] In the aforementioned seventh embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where the customer pays the balance in the equivalent exchange bymoney. However, this invention is not only limited to this but also thedata providing server 501 may issue a point to give a privilege such asa discount to the customer according to the rental and the purchase ofcontent data, and the customer may accumulate and use the points for thepayment of the balance instead of a part of or all of the money.

[0684] In the aforementioned seventh embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where the customer rents the content data D21 from the dataproviding server 501 by the portable dedicated terminal 502 onlyaccessible the above data providing server 501, and equivalentlyexchanges the content data D21 for the packaged media. However, thisinvention is not only limited to this but also, provided that it is adevice connectable to the Internet 504 such as a personal computer, aportable telephone, the customer may purchase or rent content data fromthe data providing server 501 by such device, and may equivalentlyexchange content data that the customer purchased or rented for packagedmedia.

[0685] In this connection, in the case where the customer uses the dataproviding server 501 by means of another device different from theportable dedicated terminal 502, such as a personal computer and aportable telephone, server identifying information for identifying thedata providing server 501 being the provider of content data is added tocontent data purchased or rented from the data providing server 501, inthe above device. If an equivalent exchange is requested by thecustomer, when the data providing server 501 judges whether to permit orforbid the equivalent exchange, the data providing server 501 judgeswhether or not the content data specified for the equivalent exchangewas provided from the data providing server 501 by the serveridentifying information. If the specified content data was obtained fromanother data providing server, the data providing server 501 forbids theequivalent exchange. Thereby, it can be prevented that the dataproviding server 501 suffers losses by executing the equivalent exchangeof the content data provided by the other data providing server.

[0686] Furthermore, in the case where content data rented by a devicedifferent from the portable dedicated terminal 502 is equivalentlyexchanged for packaged media, the data providing server 501 erases thecontent data in that device when it received exchange approval data fromthe device, and on the confirmation of that, it permits the equivalentexchange. Thereby, it can be prevented that the customer illegallycommits an equivalent exchange by using the content data that wasequivalently exchanged once in the device different from the portablededicated terminal 502, again.

[0687] (9) Eighth Embodiment

[0688]FIG. 45 in which the same reference numerals are added tocorresponding parts in FIG. 38 shows a data providing system 600according to an eighth embodiment. The data providing system 600 isconfigured similarly to the aforementioned data providing system 500according to the seventh embodiment except for the configuration of adata providing server 601 and a portable dedicated terminal 602 onlyaccessible the data providing server 601.

[0689] In this case, if the data providing server 601 receives contentspecifying data from the portable dedicated terminal 602 by thereceiving part 515, it performs processing similarly to the dataproviding server 501 according to the seventh embodiment described abovewith reference to FIGS. 38 and 39, and sends content data D21 in whichheader data D23 has been added from the sending part 521 to the portablededicated terminal 602 via the Internet 504. In this manner, thespecified content data D21 is rented to the customer.

[0690] In this connection, when the rental term of the content data D21expired, if the customer brings the portable dedicated terminal 602 intothe agency, the agency erases the content data D21 for return. Althoughthe rental term expired, if the customer does not bring the portablededicated terminal 602 into the agency, the content data D21 is erasedor made to be irreproducible for return by the internal mechanism of theportable dedicated terminal 602.

[0691] By the way, in the data providing server 601, the customer canequivalently exchange his/her one or plural content data D21 being asingle tune for packaged media being a single CD or an album CD.

[0692] Specifically, if the customer sends equivalent exchange requestdata D40 for requesting an equivalent exchange, for example, of pluralcontent data D21 (single tunes) that the customer owns by rental forpackaged media (album CD) from the portable dedicated terminal 602, thedata providing server 601 receives this by the receiving part 515, andtakes this in the receiving data judging part 516.

[0693] Here, as shown in FIGS. 45 and 46, in the equivalent exchangerequest data D40, equivalent exchange information representing thecustomer's name, customer ID, password, titles of the plural contentdata D21 that the customer specified for the equivalent exchange, andthe presence/absence of equivalent exchange (in this case, “1” isrepresented) has been stored.

[0694] The data providing server 601 transmits the equivalent exchangerequest data D40 from the receiving data judging part 516 to a judgingpart 610 sequentially via the customer ID extracting part 525 and thecustomer data updating/retrieving part 518.

[0695] The data providing server 601 judges whether to permit or forbidthe equivalent exchange by the judging part 610, similarly to the casedescribed above with reference to FIGS. 38 and 40. In the case where thedata providing server 601 permits the equivalent exchange, the dataproviding server 601 adds information about the customer's coded name,content ID of the content data D21 specified for the equivalentexchange, paying method of the rental charges, and amount that thecustomer practically paid, to the equivalent exchange request data D40,and generates equivalent exchange processing data D41, and transmitsthis to a value judging part 611.

[0696] Here, as shown in FIGS. 47A to 47C, in a packaged media database612 provided in the data providing server 601, a content data table 620for content data D21, a single data table 621 for single being a singleCD, and an album data table 622 for packaged media being an album CDhave been previously stored.

[0697] In this case, the content data table 620 is formed by makingcorrespondence between the title of content data D21 that the dataproviding server 501 sells/rents and a content ID, and for example,among a point to be allocated according to the ranking of the year(hereinafter, this is referred to as ranking point) (for instance, ifthe content data D21 is the tune that got the first rank in the rankingof the year, obtaining requests may be comparatively many, so that 10points are allocated, and if the content data D21 is the tune at thelowest rank, obtaining requests may be comparatively few, so that 1point is allocated, a point to be allocated according to the date ofrelease (hereinafter, this is referred to as date point) (for instance,if the date of release that the content data D21 was released at firstis recent, obtaining requests may be comparatively many, so that 10points are allocated, and if the content data D21 is a tune quite old,obtaining requests may be comparatively few, 1 point is allocated), anda total point obtained by totaling up these ranking points and datepoints, are corresponded to the content data D21 as market value.

[0698] The single data table 621 is formed by making correspondenceamong the title of packaged media being a single CD, a package ID,market value composed of the ranking point and the date point, and aselling price. And the album data table 622 is formed by makingcorrespondence among the title of packaged media being an album CD, apackage ID, market value composed of the ranking point and the datepoint, and a selling price.

[0699] The data providing server 601 retrieves a data table in thecontent data table 620 in the packaged media database 612 according toretrieval conditions previously set in the package retrieving part 528,and reads out and adds all of the total points respectively allocated tothe plural content data D21 respectively (single tunes) that thecustomer specified for the equivalent exchange, and computes the totalpoints of these plural content data D21 (hereinafter, this is referredto as total points) by the value judging part 611.

[0700] The data providing server 601 retrieves a data table in the albumdata table 622 in the packaged media database 612 based on the totalpoints computed by the value judging part 611 by the package retrievingpart 528, and detects one or plural exchangeable packaged media being analbum CD and reads the title, the package ID and the selling price ofthe above detected packaged media.

[0701] In this manner, if the data providing server 601 detects one orplural exchangeable packaged media that, the data providing server 601compares the selling price of the above packaged media with the rentalcharges that the customer paid for the plural content data D21, andcomputes the balance, in order to make the exchange value between themequal by the value judging part 611.

[0702] The data providing server 601 stores the title and the package IDof the one or plural packaged media, the equivalent exchange requestdata D31 for, and the terms of the equivalent exchange, for example,“the customer pays the balance”, “the data providing server pays thebalance to the customer”, or “the equivalent exchange can be executedwithout paying the balance because the selling price and the rentalcharges are the same amount”, and generates equivalent exchange termshowing data D42 by the value judging part 611.

[0703] Then, the data providing server 601 sends the equivalent exchangeterm showing data D42 from the sending part 521 to the portablededicated terminal 602 via the Internet 504. Thereby, as shown in FIGS.48A to 48C, the one or plural exchangeable packaged media and the termare notified to the customer.

[0704] As a result, if exchange approval data that represents theapproval of the equivalent exchange, and in the case where there areplural exchangeable packaged media that represents packaged mediaselected by the customer from among these packaged media is sent fromthe portable dedicated terminal 602, the data providing server 601receives this by the receiving part 515, and transmits this from thereceiving data judging part 516 to the judging part 610. The dataproviding server 601 confirms that the customer approved the equivalentexchange and the selected packaged media by the exchange approval databy the above judging part 610.

[0705] Then, the data providing server 601 generates package deliveryordering information by means of the package ID of the packaged mediathat the customer selected for the equivalent exchange by the judgingpart 610, and transmits this to the sending data generating part 520 togenerate package delivery ordering data, and transmits this from thesending part 521 to the package providing server 503 via the Internet504.

[0706] Thereafter, the data providing server 601 performs processingsimilarly to the data providing server 501 according to the seventhembodiment described above with reference to FIG. 38. In this manner,the plural content data D21 that the customer owns and one packagedmedia being an album CD are made equivalent, and they are equivalentlyexchanged.

[0707] On the other hand, in the portable dedicated terminal 602 shownin FIG. 45, if the customer enters specifying information on contentdata that the customer wants to rent by the operating part 540, theportable dedicated terminal 602 executes the similar processing to theportable dedicated terminal 502 according to the seventh embodimentdescribed above with reference to FIG. 38, and the content data D21 isrented to the customer from the data providing server 601.

[0708] Furthermore, if the customer enters an equivalent exchangerequest specifying the plural content data D21 for the equivalentexchange by the operating part 540, the portable dedicated terminal 602generates the equivalent exchange request data D40 described above withreference to FIG. 46 by a request data generating part 630, and sendsthis from the sending part 543 to the data providing server 601 via theInternet 504.

[0709] As a result, if the equivalent exchange term showing data D42 issent from the data providing server 601 via the Internet 504, theportable dedicated terminal 602 receives this by the receiving part 544,and transmits this to the reproducing part 549 via the judging part 545.Thus, the title of the one or plural packaged media to be equivalentlyexchanged, and the term for the equivalent exchange for each packagedmedia (to pay/receive the balance, or there is no balance) are notifiedto the customer.

[0710] As a result, if the customer sends the approval of the equivalentexchange and information representing the packaged media that thecustomer selected for the equivalent exchange from among the pluralpackaged media by the operating part 540, the portable dedicatedterminal 602 generates exchange approval data representing the aboveapproval and selected packaged media by the request data generating part630, and sends this from the sending part 543 to the data providingserver 601 via the Internet 504.

[0711] Thereafter, if the equivalent exchange permitting data is sentfrom the data providing server 601 via the Internet 504, the portablededicated terminal 602 receives this by the receiving part 544, andtransmits this to the reproducing part 549 via the judging part 545.Thereby, the permission of the equivalent exchange, the delivery methodof the packaged media, etc. are notified to the customer.

[0712] In this connection, if equivalent exchange forbidding data issent from the data providing server 601 via the Internet 504, theportable dedicated terminal 602 receives this by the receiving part 544and transmits this from the judging part 545 to the reproducing part549. Thus, that the forbidding of the equivalent exchange is notified tothe customer.

[0713] Here, equivalent exchange processing procedures by the dataproviding server 601, the portable dedicated terminal 602 and thepackage providing server 503 in the data providing system 600 will becollectively described. As shown in FIGS. 49A and 50A in that the samereference numerals are added to corresponding part in FIGS. 43A and 44A,first, the portable dedicated terminal 602 enters routine RT35 from thestarting step, proceeds to step SP351 and sequentially executes theprocessing of the aforementioned steps SP351 to SP354, and proceeds tostep SP401.

[0714] In step SP401, the portable dedicated terminal 602 awaits thatthe customer enters the equivalent exchange request specifying pluralcontent data D21 for the equivalent exchange by the operating part 540.Until the equivalent exchange request is entered, the portable dedicatedterminal 602 returns to step SP351 and repeats the processing loop ofsteps SP352-SP353-SP354-SP401.

[0715] In step SP401, if the equivalent exchange request is entered viathe operating part 540, the portable dedicated terminal 602 proceeds tostep SP402 to generate the equivalent exchange request data D40 by therequest data generating part 630 and transmit this from the sending part543 to the data providing server 601, and then it proceeds to stepSP357.

[0716] On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 49B and 50B in that the samereference numerals are added to corresponding parts in FIGS. 43B and44B, the data providing server 601 enters routine RT36 from the startstep, proceeds to step SP371, and sequentially executes the processingof the aforementioned steps SP371 to SP375. In step SP374, if the dataproviding server 601 permits the equivalent exchange, it proceeds tostep SP411.

[0717] In step SP411, the data providing server 601 detects one orplural packaged media having the same total points as the plural contentdata D21 owned by the customer, as exchangeable packaged media,generates the equivalent exchange term showing data D42 representing aterm to make the exchange value between them equal by the value judgingpart 611, and transmits this from the sending part 521 to the portablededicated terminal 602, and then proceeds to step SP412.

[0718] At this time, in step SP357, the portable dedicated terminal 602awaits the equivalent exchange term showing data D42 or the equivalentexchange forbidding data from the data providing server 601. If theportable dedicated terminal 602 receives either data by the receivingpart 544, it proceeds to step SP358. If the received data is theequivalent exchange term showing data D42, the portable dedicatedterminal 602 proceeds to step SP403.

[0719] In step SP403, the portable dedicated terminal 602 generates theexchange approval data representing the approval of the equivalentexchange and packaged media that the customer selected for theequivalent exchange from among the plural packaged media by the requestdata generating part 630 according to the customer's operation of theoperating part 540, transmits the above generated exchange approval datafrom the sending part 543 to the data providing server 601, and proceedsto step SP361. Thereafter, if the portable dedicated terminal 602receives the equivalent exchange permitting data by the receiving part544, it proceeds to step SP404 to finish the above processing.

[0720] Furthermore, in step SP412, the data providing server 601 awaitsthat the exchange approval data is sent from the portable dedicatedterminal 602. If the data providing server 601 receives the aboveexchange approval data by the receiving part 515, it sequentiallyexecutes the processing of the aforementioned steps SP379 to SP381, andthen proceeds to step SP413 to finish the above processing. Thus, all ofthe equivalent exchange processing procedure in the data providingsystem 600 is finished.

[0721] According to the above configuration, in this data providingsystem 600, if content specifying data for requesting the rental ofcontent data D21 is sent from the portable dedicated terminal 602 to thedata providing server 601, the data providing server 601 sends thespecified content data D21 to the portable dedicated terminal 602 forstoring. Thus, the customer can rent the content data D21 within theportable dedicated terminal 602.

[0722] Then, in this data providing system 600, if equivalent exchangerequest data D30 for requesting the equivalent exchange of the lumpedplural content data D21 (single tunes) owned by the customer by rentalfor one packaged media (album CD) is sent from the portable dedicatedterminal 602 to the data providing server 601, the data providing server601 detects the total points of these plural content data D21, detectsthe packaged media (album CD) having the same total points as the abovedetected total point as exchangeable packaged media, and sendsequivalent exchange term showing data D42 showing a term to make theexchange value between each of the above detected packaged media and theplural content data owned by the customer equal, to the portablededicated terminal 602.

[0723] As a result, in the data providing system 600, if equivalentexchange approval data representing the approval of the equivalentexchange and packaged media that the customer selected for equivalentexchange is sent from the portable dedicated terminal 602 to the dataproviding server 601, the balance in the equivalent exchange is settled,the plural content data owned by the customer are erased for return fromthe portable dedicated terminal 602, and the packaged media is deliveredto the customer. In this manner, the exchange value between the pluralcontent data D21 owned by the customer and the packaged media being analbum CD is made to be equal, and the plural content data D21 isexchanged for the packaged media.

[0724] Accordingly, in this data providing system 600, when inretrieving exchangeable packaged media, the total points of the pluralcontent data D21 and the total points of the packaged media are matched.Therefore, the plural content data D21 owned by the customer can beequivalently exchanged for the packaged media being an album CD storingcontent data same as or different from them.

[0725] Then, in this data providing system 600, by performing suchmatching by points in the data providing server 601, for instance,plural content data D21 can be equivalently exchanged for packaged mediabeing one single CD, or even one content data D21 can be equivalentlyexchanged for packaged media being an album CD. Thus, the convenience ofequivalent exchange can be remarkably improved.

[0726] As a result, in this data providing system 600, the customer canfurther remarkably easily use the system. If the number of users of thepresent system increases by this, the distribution of content data onthe Internet can be further popularized.

[0727] According to the above configuration, the data providing server601 sends the content data D21 that was specified by the rental requestfrom the customer's portable dedicated terminal 602 to the portablededicated terminal 602 for storing and rental. Thereafter, if thecustomer requests to equivalently exchange the content data D21 thathe/she rents for packaged media by the portable dedicated terminal 602,the data providing server 601 detects exchangeable packaged media bymatching points of the above specified content data D21 with points ofthe packaged media that was selected according to the market value, andshows a term to make the exchange value between them equal. Thereby, inaddition to the effect obtained by the aforementioned seventhembodiment, convenience in equivalent exchange in a data providingsystem can be remarkably improved. Thus, the data providing system thatcan further popularize the distribution of content data on the Internetcan be accomplished.

[0728] Note that, in the aforementioned eighth embodiment, it has dealtwith the case where the points are allocated to the content data, thepackaged media being a single CD and the packaged media being an albumCD respectively, according to the ranking of the year and the date ofrelease. However, this invention is not only limited to this but also,in addition to the ranking of the year and the date of release, 1 pointmay be allocated to media that were comparatively sold a lot, becauseits scarcity value may be relatively low, and 10 points may be allocatedto media that were not almost sold, because its scarcity value may berelatively high. Furthermore, points may be allocated according to oneof them, the ranking of the year, the date of release, and the sales, orby combining them.

[0729] In the aforementioned eighth embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where the content data D21 being rented by the customer isequivalently exchanged for the packaged media by the data providingserver 601. However, this invention is not only limited to this but alsocontent data sold to the customer may be equivalently exchanged forpackaged media by the data providing server 601.

[0730] In this connection, in the aforementioned eighth embodiment,since the content data D21 being rented was equivalently exchanged forthe packaged media, the above content data D21 was erased for returnwhen the rental term had expired. However, in the case where thecustomer requested an equivalent exchange of content data that he/shepurchased for packaged media storing the same content data, it can besaid that the customer may not illegally own different content data, sothat the content data already equivalently exchanged for the packagedmedia may be kept by the customer as it is.

[0731] In the aforementioned embodiment, it has dealt with the casewhere the packaged media to be equivalently exchanged for the contentdata D21 owned by the customer is delivered to the customer by thepackage providing server 503. However, this invention is not onlylimited to this but also the packaged media may be directly handed tothe customer at the agency.

[0732] In the aforementioned eighth embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where the equivalently-exchanged content data and package data aremusical data (single tune and single CD). However, this invention is notonly limited to this but also, as content data and packaged media to beequivalently exchanged, various contents other than that, such as amotion picture, and a book can be applied. Thereby, the convenience andthe versatility of a data providing system can be remarkably improved,and the distribution of content data on the Internet can be furtherpopularized.

[0733] In the aforementioned eighth embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where the balance to make the exchange value in the equivalentexchange between the content data D21 owned by the customer and thepackaged media equal is settled by money. However, this invention is notonly limited to this but also points to give the customer a privilegesuch as a discount may be issued according to the amount of the rentaland the purchase of content data by the data providing server 601 andstored in the data providing server 601, and the balance may be settledby that points that the customer obtained, instead of a part of or allof money.

[0734] Furthermore, in the aforementioned eighth embodiment, it hasdealt with the case where the rental of the content data D21 isperformed from the data providing server 601 by means of the portablededicated terminal 602 that is only accessible the above data providingserver 601, and equivalently exchanged the above content data D21 forthe packaged media. However, this invention is not only limited to thisbut also, provided that it is a device connectable to the Internet 504such as a personal computer and a portable telephone, the customer maypurchase/rent content data from the data providing server 601 by meansof such device, and may equivalently exchange the content data forpackaged media.

[0735] In this connection, when in using the data providing server 601by means of another device other than the portable dedicated terminal602, such as a personal computer and a portable telephone, the dataproviding server 601 previously adds server identification informationfor identifying the data providing server 601 being the provider ofcontent data to be purchased/rented from the data providing server 601.If the customer requests to equivalently exchange content data owned bythe customer for packaged media, the data providing server 601 judgeswhether to permit the equivalent exchange by the server identificationinformation: whether or not the content data specified by the customeris data which was provided from the data providing server 601. If thecontent data specified by the customer is data that was provided fromanother data providing server, the data providing server 601 does notpermit the equivalent exchange. Thereby, it can be prevented that thedata providing server suffers losses by executing the equivalentexchange of content data provided from another data providing server.

[0736] Furthermore, in the case where the customer equivalentlyexchanges content data renting from a device other than the portablededicated terminal 602 for packaged media, the portable dedicatedterminal 602 erases the content data that has been recorded in thatdevice when the portable dedicated terminal 602 received the exchangeapproval data from the above device, and the data providing server 601permits the equivalent exchange of the above content data for thepackaged media upon that confirmation has got. Thereby, it can beprevented that the customer commits illegal equivalent exchange by usingthe content data for rental that was equivalently exchanged once by thedevice other than the portable dedicated terminal 602, again.

[0737] (10) Ninth Embodiment

[0738]FIG. 51 shows a data providing system 700 according to a ninthembodiment. In the data providing system 700, a request terminal 702being a personal computer corresponding to the request terminal used bythe customer 3 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, a dataproviding server 703 being a personal computer corresponding to theagencies 4A to 4N described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, apackage providing server 704 being a personal computer corresponding tothe sales company 5 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, andan advertiser/company server 705 being a personal computer correspondingto the advertiser/company site 6 described above with reference to FIGS.1 to 3, and a portable dedicated terminal 706 corresponding to theportable dedicated terminals 7A to 7N described above with reference toFIGS. 1 to 3 are respectively connected to a system management server701 being a personal computer corresponding to the system managementsite 2 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 on the Internet707.

[0739] As shown in FIG. 52, in the system management server 701, arandom access memory (RAM) 712, a read only memory (ROM) 713, a displaypart 714, an input part 715, a hard disk drive (HDD) 716 and a networkinterface 717 are connected to a control part 710 such as a centralprocessing unit (CPU) via a bus 711.

[0740] In this case, the control part 710 reads various programspreviously stored from the ROM 713 and expands them on the RAM 712. Bythese various programs, the system management server 701 can execute theprocessing similar to the updating part 60 and the matching part 63described above with reference to FIG. 4, the accounting part 116described above with reference to FIG. 5, the accounting part 156, thecontent ID extracting part 161, the content retrieving part 162 and thesending data generating part 164 described above with reference to FIG.8, the advertiser/company information updating part 213, the customerinformation updating part 215 and the matching part 216 described abovewith reference to FIG. 11, and the matching part 268 described abovewith reference to FIG. 25.

[0741] In this connection, the system management server 701 executes theprocessing similar to them according to the various programs previouslystored in the ROM 713. However, these various processing may be executedby providing a program storing medium that stores these various programsin the system management server 701.

[0742] Note that, such program storing medium is not only limited topackaged media such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, and a DVD but also itmay be a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disc, etc., that cantemporarily or permanently store the various programs. Furthermore, asmeans for storing these various programs in the program storing medium,a cable or radio communication medium such as a local area network, theInternet, and digital satellite broadcasting can be used, and they maybe stored via various communication interfaces such as a rooter and amodem.

[0743] The control part 710 stores and manages various information suchas the customer registration information, and the advertiser/companyregistration information, that will be used in the whole system, in thehard disk drive 716.

[0744] Furthermore, the control part 710 can send/receive informationsuch as the customer information, the advertiser/company information,the customer introducing information, and the advertiser/customerintroducing information, to/from the request terminal 702, the dataproviding server 703, the package providing server 704, theadvertiser/company server 705 and the portable dedicated terminal 706via the network interface 717.

[0745] In this manner, the system management server 701 being a personalcomputer can function in similar to the system management site 2described above with reference to FIG. 1 according to the variousprograms.

[0746] In this connection, the system management server 701 uses theinput part 715 and the display part 714 to confirm the variousinformation stored in the hard disk drive 716.

[0747] As shown in FIG. 53, in the request terminal 702, a RAM 722, aROM 723, a display part 724, an input part 725, a hard disk drive 726and a network interface 727 are connected to a control part 720 such asa CPU, via a bus 721.

[0748] In this case, the control part 720 reads various programspreviously stored in the ROM 723, and expands them on the RAM 722. Bythese various programs, the request terminal 702 can execute processingsimilar to the request data generating part 71 and the display controlpart 74 described above with reference to FIG. 4, the operationalinformation judging part 121, the request data generating part 122, thejudging part 125 and the accounting part 127 described above withreference to FIG. 5, and the request data generating part 321 and thedisplay control part 324 described above with reference to FIG. 28.

[0749] In this connection, the request terminal 702 executes theprocessing similar to them according to the various programs previouslystored in the ROM 723. However, these various processing may be executedby providing a program storing medium in that these various programshave been stored in the request terminal 702.

[0750] Note that, such program storing medium is not only limited topackaged media such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, and a DVD, but also itmay be a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disc, etc., that cantemporarily or permanently store the various programs. As means forstoring the various programs in the program storing medium, a cable orradio communication medium such as a local area network, the Internet,and digital satellite broadcasting may be used, and they may be storedvia various communication interfaces such as a rooter and a modem.

[0751] The control part 720 stores and manages various information suchas address information on the accessible system management server 701and the data providing server 703 in the hard disk drive 726.

[0752] Furthermore, the control part 720 can send/receive variousinformation such as the customer information and a content dataobtaining request to/from the system management server 701 and the dataproviding server 703 via the network interface 727.

[0753] In this connection, in the request terminal 702, when thecustomer performs the rental reservation of content data and theportable dedicated terminal 706 to the data providing server 703, theinput part 725 and the display part 724 are used.

[0754] As shown in FIG. 54, in the data providing server 703, a RAM 732,a ROM 733, a display part 734, an input part 735, a hard disk drive 736and a network interface 737 are connected to a control part 730 such asa CPU, via a bus 731.

[0755] In this case, the control part 730 reads various programspreviously stored from the ROM 733, and expands them on the RAM 732. Bythese various programs, the data providing server 703 can executeprocessing similar to the content retrieving part 62 and the packageretrieving part 64 described above with reference to FIG. 4, therecording control part 117 described above with reference to FIG. 5, thereceiving data judging part 155, the recording control part 157, theoperational information judging part 158 and the request data generatingpart 159 described above with reference to FIG. 8, the retrieving part315 and the matching part 316 described above with reference to FIG. 28,the receiving data judging part 516, the content ID extracting part 517,the customer updating/retrieving part 518, the content retrieving part519, the sending data generating part 520, the customer ID extractingpart 525, the judging part 526, the value judging part 527 and thepackage retrieving part 528 described above with reference to FIG. 38,and the judging part 610 and the value judging part 611 described abovewith reference to FIG. 45.

[0756] In this connection, the data providing server 703 performs theprocessing similar to them according to the various programs previouslystored in the ROM 733. However, these various processing may beperformed by providing a program storing medium storing these variousprograms in the data providing server 703.

[0757] Note that, such program storing medium is not only limited topackaged media such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, and a DVD but also itmay be a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, etc., that cantemporarily or permanently store the various programs. Furthermore, asmeans for storing the various programs in the program storing medium, acable or radio communication medium such as a local area network, theInternet, and digital satellite broadcasting may be used, and they maybe stored via various communication interfaces such as a rooter and amodem.

[0758] The control part 730 stores and manages various information suchas customer registration information on the customer using the agency,content data to be provided to the portable dedicated terminal 706 inthe hard disk drive 736.

[0759] Furthermore, the control part 730 can send/receive variousinformation such as the customer information, content data, and packagedelivery ordering data to/from the system management server 701, thepackage providing server 704, and the request terminal 702 and theportable dedicated terminal 706 connected via the above systemmanagement server 701, via the network interface 737.

[0760] In this connection, in the data providing server 703, when inrequesting the system management server 701 to send content data, andwhen in confirming various information stored in the hard disk drive736, the input part 735 and the display part 734 are used.

[0761] As shown in FIG. 55, in the package providing server 704, a RAM742, a ROM 743, a display part 744, an input part 745, a hard disk drive746 and a network interface 747 are connected to a control part 740 suchas a CPU, via a bus 741.

[0762] In this case, the control part 740 reads various programspreviously stored in the ROM 743, and expands them on the RAM 742. Bythese various programs, the package providing server 704 can executeprocessing similar to the package ID extracting part 561, the packageretrieving part 562, the package taking-out control part 564 and thepacking and shipment instructing part 565 described above with referenceto FIG. 38.

[0763] In this connection, the package providing server 704 executes theprocessing similar to them according to the various programs previouslystored in the ROM 743. However, these various processing may be executedby providing a program storing medium storing these various programs inthe package providing server 704.

[0764] Note that, such program storing medium is not only limited topackaged media such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, and a DVD, but also itmay be a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, etc., that cantemporarily or permanently store various programs. Furthermore, as meansfor storing the various programs in the program storing medium, a cableor radio communication medium such as a local area network, theInternet, and digital satellite broadcasting may be used, and they maybe stored via various communication interfaces such as a rooter and amodem.

[0765] The control part 740 stores and manages various information suchas the stock of packaged media and storing information in the hard diskdrive 746.

[0766] Furthermore, the control part 740 can send/receive variousinformation such as the package delivery ordering data and deliveryarrangement completion data to/from the data providing server 703 viathe network interface 747.

[0767] In this connection, in the package providing server 704, forinstance, when in confirming the various information stored in the harddisk drive 746, the input part 745 and the display part 744 are used.

[0768] As shown in FIG. 56, in the advertiser/company server 705, a RAM752, a ROM 753, a display part 754, an input part 755, a hard disk drive756 and a network interface 757 are connected to a control part 750 suchas a CPU, via a bus 751.

[0769] In this case, the control part 750 reads various programspreviously stored in the ROM 753, and expands them on the RAM 752. Bythese various programs, the advertiser/company server 705 can executeprocessing similar to the sending control part 231, the display controlpart 234, the customer selecting part 237 and the sending datagenerating part 238 described above with reference to FIG. 11.

[0770] In this connection, the advertiser/company server 705 executesthe similar processing to them according to the various programspreviously stored in the ROM 753. However, these various processing maybe executed by providing a program storing medium storing these variousprograms in the advertiser/company server 705.

[0771] Note that, such program storing medium is not only limited topackaged media such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, and a DVD but also itmay be a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, etc., that cantemporarily or permanently store various programs. Furthermore, as meansfor storing the various programs in the program storing medium, a cableor radio communication medium such as a local area network, theInternet, and digital satellite broadcasting may be used, and they maybe stored via various communication interfaces such as a rooter and amodem.

[0772] The control part 750 stores and manages various information suchas distribution data to be provided on the Internet 707 in the hard diskdrive 756.

[0773] Furthermore, the control part 750 can send/receive variousinformation such as the advertiser/company information and the customerintroducing information to/from the system management server 701, viathe network interface 757.

[0774] In this connection, in the package providing server 705, when theadvertiser/company information or the like is entered, the input part755 and the display part 754 are used.

[0775] As shown in FIG. 57, in the portable dedicated terminal 706, themain body of a terminal 770 which has a function to record and reproducecontent data and is freely carriable can be attached to a cradle 771that has a charging function to the above main body of the terminal 770and a communication function using the Internet 707 in freelydetachable.

[0776] In this case, in the main body of the terminal 770, a displaypart 772 being a liquid crystal display is provided at the front of thecase. On the display part 772, pictures based on content data, variousoperational screens used to obtain content data or the like can bedisplayed.

[0777] At a lower part of the display part 772 on the front surface ofthe case, a reproducing start button 773, a play/stop button 774 and asend button 775 are provided. By means of these buttons, a reproducingstarting command and a reproducing stop command of content data, and asend command to send various requests to the data providing server 703or the like can be entered.

[0778] In this connection, on the front surface of the case, a chargelamp 776 that, when the main body of the terminal 770 is on charging,notifies the customer of that is provided, and the logotype 777 of theagency that sold and rented the portable dedicated terminal 706 isrepresented.

[0779] On the top of the case, a headphone jack 778 is provided. On theright side of the case, a power button 779 and a volume control dial 780are provided. And on the left side of the case, a cancel button 781 anda rotational operating button that is freely rotatable and pushable(hereinafter, this is referred to as jog dial) 782 are provided asslightly projecting from the surface of the case.

[0780] The main body of the terminal 770 outputs sound obtained byreproducing content data from the headphone jack 778 to the headphones.The customer can listen the sound. At this time, the customer cancontrol the volume by the volume control dial 780.

[0781] Furthermore, in the main body of the terminal 770, when anoperating screen or the like is displayed on the display part 772, ifthe customer rotates the jog dial 782, the operating screen is scrolledaccording to the operation. If the customer erroneously enteredinformation or a command on the above operating screen, the customer cancancel it by the cancel button 781.

[0782] On the other hand, in the cradle 771, an alternating current (AC)adapter 790 is provided. If the AC adapter 790 is connected to a mainbattery or the like in the state where the main body of the terminal 770has been mounted, the battery of the main body of the terminal 770 canbe charged.

[0783] In the cradle 771, a modular jack 791, an audio output terminal792 and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) terminal 793 are provided. Ifcontent data received by communicating with the system management server701 and the data providing server 703 via the above modular jack 791 orthe like is sent to the main body of the terminal 770, audio dataobtained from the main body of the terminal 770 is outputted to anexternal speaker or the like from the audio output terminal 792, andcontent data obtained from the outside can be taken in from the USBterminal 793 and it can be sent to the main body of the terminal 770.

[0784] Here, the circuit configuration of the portable dedicatedterminal 706 will be described with reference to FIG. 58. First, in thecradle 771, a storing part 802, a USB controller 803, the audio outputterminal 792 and a modem 804 are connected to a CPU 800 via a bus 801.Power supply voltage taken in from the AC adapter 790 is converted intothe internal voltage of a predetermined voltage by a power supply part805, and the voltage is supplied to the CPU 800 and each circuit block,so that the whole of the cradle 771 is driven.

[0785] In the main body of the terminal 770, a flash memory 822, aliquid crystal display (LCD) controller 823, an amplifier 824, and anoperating key controller 825 are connected to a CPU 820 via a bus 821.By supplying the internal voltage from a battery circuit part 826 to theCPU 820 and each circuit block, the whole of the main body of theterminal 770 is driven.

[0786] When the main body of the terminal 770 is mounted on the cradle771, a power input terminal 831 is connected to a power supply terminal830 in the cradle 771. Thereby, power supply voltage supplied from thepower supply part 805 in the cradle 771 sequentially via the powersupply terminal 830 and the power input terminal 831 is taken in thebattery circuit part 826, and the battery is charged. Thus, even if themain body of the terminal 770 is detached from the cradle 771, theportable dedicated terminal 706 can be freely used.

[0787] If the main body of the terminal 770 is mounted on the cradle771, a main-body-side information input/output terminal 833 is connectedto a cradle-side information input/output terminal 832 provided in thecradle 771, so that data and various information can be sent/receivedto/from the cradle 771.

[0788] Practically, in the portable dedicated terminal 706, the USBterminal 793 of the cradle 771 can be connected to the data providingserver 703 via a USB cable (not shown). Content data sent from the dataproviding server 703 via the USB cable by a customer's rentalreservation or the like is taken in the USB controller 803 in the cradle771 from the USB terminal 793, and the above taken-in content data issent from the cradle-side information input/output terminal 832 to themain body of the terminal 770.

[0789] In this case, the main body of the terminal 770 takes the contentdata sent from the cradle-side information input/output terminal 832 ofthe cradle 771 in the CPU 820 from the main-body-side informationinput/output terminal 833 via an interface part 834, and stores thecontent data in the flash memory 822.

[0790] In this manner, if the main body of the terminal 770 stores thecontent data in the flash memory 822, it takes a reproducing startcommand given from the operating key controller 825 in the CPU 820according to the customer's operation of the reproducing start button773, reproduces the content data from the flash memory 822, and sendsthe above reproduced content data from the amplifier 824 to theheadphone jack 778 as well as sending the above content data from theLCD controller 823 to the display part 772. Thereby, the customer canenjoy the content.

[0791] Furthermore, if various information such as a request for theobtaining of content data is entered via the operating key controller825, the main body of the terminal 770 takes this in the CPU 820, andsends this from the CPU 820 to the cradle 771 sequentially via theinterface part 834 and the main-body-side information input/outputterminal 833.

[0792] At this time, the cradle 771 takes in various information givenfrom the main body of the terminal 770 from the cradle-side informationinput/output terminal 832, and sends the above taken-in variousinformation from the modem 804 to the data providing server 703 or thelike via the modular jack 791 and the system management server 701.

[0793] As a result, if the various information such as content data issent from the data providing server 703 or the like via the systemmanagement server 701, the cradle 771 takes this in the CPU 800 from themodular jack 791 via the modem 804, and supplies the above receivedvarious information from the cradle-side information input/outputterminal 832 to the main body of the terminal 770.

[0794] The main body of the terminal 770 takes various information sentfrom the cradle 771 in the CPU 820 from the main-body-side informationinput/output terminal 833 via the interface part 834, and notifies thecustomer of the content of that information via the display part 772 andthe headphone jack 778, or stores the various information in the flashmemory 822.

[0795] In this manner, in the main body of the terminal 770, the CPU 820reads the various programs previously stored in the ROM 840 and expandsthem on the RAM 841. By these various programs, the main body of theterminal 770 can execute the processing similar to the recording controlpart 81, the reproducing control part 84 and the request data generatingpart 86 described above with reference to FIG. 4, the request datagenerating part 241, the recording control part 245 and the reproducingcontrol part 248 described above with reference to FIG. 11, the requestdata generating part 270 described above with reference to FIG. 25, thereproducing control part 342, the request data generating part 344 andthe recording control part 347 described above with reference to FIG.28, the operational information judging part 541, the request datagenerating part 542, the judging part 545, the recording control part546 and the reproducing control part 548 described above with referenceto FIG. 38, and the request data generating part 630 described abovewith reference to FIG. 45.

[0796] In this connection, the main body of the terminal 770 of theportable dedicated terminal 706 executes the processing similar to themaccording to the various programs previously stored in the ROM 840.However, these various programs may be executed by providing a programstoring medium storing these various programs in the main body of theterminal 770.

[0797] Note that, such program storing medium is not only limited topackaged media such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, and a DVD but also itmay be a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, etc., that cantemporarily or permanently store the various programs. Furthermore, asmeans for storing the various programs in the program storing medium, acable or radio communication medium such as a local area network, theInternet, and digital satellite broadcasting may be used, and thevarious programs may be stored via various communication interfaces suchas a rooter and a modem.

[0798] The cradle 771 stores various information such as the addressesof accessible servers in the storing part 802, so that the CPU 800 cancommunicate with the system management server 701 or the like accordingto the above various information.

[0799] According to the above configuration, in this data providingsystem 700, the system management server 701, the request terminal 702,the data providing server 703, the package providing server 704 and theadvertiser/company server 705 have the configuration of a personalcomputer respectively.

[0800] Therefore, in this data providing system 700, it is unnecessaryto newly create them as hardware. Thereby, the system can be easilyconstructed by means of these personal computers only by installingvarious programs in the existent personal computers.

[0801] In this data providing system 700, with respect to the portablededicated terminal 706, hardware had newly prepared on purpose withoutapplying a personal computer. However, this is because a person who doesnot own a personal computer or a person who is inexperienced in theoperation of a personal computer can easily manage the portablededicated terminal 706 without circumstance by that it is portable andthe operating buttons were simplified.

[0802] According to the above configuration, the system is formed byusing the system management server 701, the request terminal 702, thedata providing server 703, the package providing server 704 and theadvertiser/company server 705 that have the configuration of a personalcomputer. Therefore, existent personal computers can be used as them.Thus, the system construction is easy and can be simplified.

[0803] (11) Tenth Embodiment

[0804]FIG. 59 in which the same reference numerals are added tocorresponding parts in FIG. 51 shows a data providing system 900according to a tenth embodiment. The data providing system 900 is formedin similar to the data providing system 700 according to the ninthembodiment, except for the configuration of a portable dedicatedterminal 910 that corresponds to the portable dedicated terminals 7A to7N described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0805] In this case, as shown in FIG. 60, the portable dedicatedterminal 910 has a function to record/reproduce content data. In theportable dedicated terminal 910, a main body of a terminal 911 freelyportable can be freely detachably mounted on a cradle 912 that has acharging function to the main body of the terminal 911 and acommunication function by using the Internet 707.

[0806] In the main body of the terminal 911, a display part 913 being aliquid crystal display is provided on the front surface of the case. Onthe display part 913, video based on content data, various operatingscreens used to obtain content data, or the like, can be displayed.

[0807] Under the display part 913 on the front surface of the case, acharacter input key group 914 being ten keys “0” to “9”, a charactertype change key 915 and a cancel key 916 are provided. By using thecharacter input key group 914 as ten key in the state where a contentselecting screen is displayed on the display part 913, the customer canenter numerals for bar code as identification information previouslymade to correspond to a content and can selectively specify a desiredcontent. At the same time, by using the character input key group 914together with the character type change key 915 and the cancel key 916,the customer can enter the title of the content or the like in Englishletters (alphabets), numerals and symbols, Japanese characters(hiragana, katakana and Chinese characters), etc., and can selectivelyspecify a desired content.

[0808] In this connection, on the front surface of the case, a chargelamp 917 that, when the main body of the terminal 911 is on charging,notifies the customer of that is provided, and the logotype 918 of theagency that sold/rented the portable dedicated terminal 910 isrepresented.

[0809] On the top of the case, a headphone jack 919 and a microphone 920are provided. On the right side of the case, a power button 921 and avolume control dial 922 are provided.

[0810] In addition to this, a send button 923 to send various requeststo the data providing server 703 or the like is provided on the leftside of the case, and a jog dial 924 freely rotatable and pushable isprovided as slightly projecting from the surface of the case.

[0811] In the main body of the terminal 911, by rotating and pushing thejog dial 924 in the state where an operating screen for reproducing ofcontent data is displayed on the display part 913, the customer canenter various commands such as a reproducing start command and areproducing stop command of content data.

[0812] The main body of the terminal 911 outputs voice obtained byreproducing content data from the headphone jack 919 to headphones (notshown), and displays pictures obtained by reproducing the content dataon the display part 913. Thereby, the customer views the content. Atthis time, the customer can control the volume by turning the volumecontrol dial 922.

[0813] As shown in FIG. 61, in the main body of the terminal 911, acamera 925 for pattern recognition is provided at the upper center partof the back of the case. The main body of the terminal 911 picks up thepicture of a bar code previously made to correspond to the content bythat camera 925, so that the customer can selectively specify a desiredcontent. And by that the customer uses the camera 925 together with themicrophone 920, moving pictures and sound for a predetermined time (forseveral seconds) can be taken in as a memo of desired information.

[0814] Furthermore, at the lower part of the back of the case, adetachable battery pack 926 is mounted. Battery voltage is supplied fromthe above battery pack 926 to the internal various circuits by pushingthe power button 921, and the portable dedicated terminal 910 is startedup.

[0815] In this connection, on the bottom of the case, a connector thatwill be described later is provided, and the main body of the terminal911 can be electrically connected to the cradle 912 via the aboveconnector. When the connector 928 of an AC adapter 927 connected to themain power is connected to that connector, the battery pack 926 candirectly charge without via the cradle 912.

[0816] On the other hand, in the cradle 912 (FIG. 60), a connector 929is provided on the top surface of the case. By connecting the connectorof the main body of the terminal 911 to the above connector 929 (thatis, by mounting the main body of the terminal 911) on the cradle 912,the main body of the terminal 911 can be electrically connected to themain body of the terminal 911.

[0817] In the cradle 912, the connector 928 of the AC adapter 927 isprovided freely detachably. If the AC adapter 927 is connected to themain power, power supply voltage is supplied to each of the internalcircuits from the above AC adapter 927, and the portable dedicatedterminal 910 is started up. If the main body of the terminal 911 iselectrically connected to the cradle 912, power supply voltage issupplied from the AC adapter 927 to the battery pack 926 of the mainbody of the terminal 911 and the battery pack 926 charges.

[0818] In the cradle 912, a modular jack 930 for public network of whichthe communication speed is comparatively slow, and a jack for Ethernet(trademark) 931 of which the communication speed is remarkably fasterthan the public network (hereinafter, this is referred to as Ethernetjack) are provided.

[0819] If the main body of the terminal 911 is mounted on the cradle912, the main body of the terminal 911 makes the customer arbitrarilyselect either the public network or the Ethernet (trademark) for acommunication line to be used, and connects to the system managementserver 701 and the data providing server 703 via the modular jack 930 orthe Ethernet jack 931 corresponding to thus selected public network orEthernet (trademark).

[0820] In addition to this, in the cradle 912, a video output terminal932 and an audio output terminal 933 are provided.

[0821] If the content data is reproduced in the state where the mainbody of the terminal 911 is mounted on the cradle 912, the main body ofthe terminal 911 sends video data and audio data forming the contentdata to an external device such as a television receiving set via thevideo output terminal 932 and the audio output terminal 933. Thus, thecustomer can view the content.

[0822] Here, the circuit configuration of the portable dedicatedterminal 910 will be described with reference to FIG. 62. First, in themain body of the terminal 911, a main CPU 940 for integratedlycontrolling the all circuits in the main body of the terminal 911 andthe cradle 912 is provided.

[0823] Furthermore, in the main body of the terminal 911, a sub CPU 941which controls starting-up/stop of each circuit in the main body of theterminal 911 and also has a function as a human interface is provided.

[0824] If the power button 921 is pushed and a starting-up command issent from an operating part 942 composed of the above power button 921,the character input key group 914, the character type change key 915,the cancel key 916, the volume control dial 922, the send button 923 andthe jog dial 924, the sub CPU 941 takes battery voltage supplied fromthe battery pack 926 in an internal power monitoring circuit 941A,converts the battery voltage into internal voltage at plural kinds ofpredetermined levels in the power monitoring circuit 941A, and suppliesthem to corresponding circuits in the main body of the terminal 911respectively, and separatively starts up these circuits.

[0825] Then, the sub CPU 941 separatively controls starting-up/stop ofeach circuit in the main body of the terminal 911 according to theprocessing that the main CPU 940 executed. Thereby, wasteful consumptionof battery voltage from the battery pack 926 can be reduced to theutmost.

[0826] If the main body of the terminal 911 starts, the main CPU 940reads various programs previously stored in a system memory 943 being aflash ROM via a memory bus B1, and expands them on an SDRAM 944.

[0827] Thereby, the main CPU 940 can execute processing similar to therecording control part 81, the reproducing control part 84 and therequest data generating part 86 described above with reference to FIG.4, the request data generating part 241, the recording control part 245and the reproducing control part 248 described above with reference toFIG. 11, the request data generating part 270 described above withreference to FIG. 25, the reproducing control part 342, the request datagenerating part 344 and the recording control part 347 described abovewith reference to FIG. 28, the operational information judging part 541,the request data generating part 542, the judging part 545, therecording control part 546 and the reproducing control part 548described above with reference to FIG. 38, and the request datagenerating part 630 described above with reference to FIG. 45, by thevarious programs.

[0828] Specifically, in the main CPU 940, in advance of the sale or therental of the portable dedicated terminal 910 at the agency, contentdata that the customer specified for purchase or rental, header dataadded to the above content data, the customer ID issued in the customerregistration, etc., are recorded in a data memory 945 being a flash ROMin compressively-coded data.

[0829] After the user purchased/rented the portable dedicated terminal910, if the customer enters a request to reproduce the content data bythe operating part 942 sequentially via the sub CPU 941 and an I²C busB2 being a serial bus (it is generally called system management (SM)bus), the main CPU 940 reads reproducing operation screen data from thesystem memory 943 via the memory bus B1, and sends this to a timinggenerator 946.

[0830] The timing generator 946 controls the display part 913 based onscreen data and video data supplied from the main CPU 940 (controls theemitting timing and the emitting intensity of liquid crystals thatcorrespond to the plural pixels of one screen on the display part 913,respectively). Thereby, if the reproducing operation screen data is sentfrom the main CPU 940, a reproducing operation screen based on thereproducing operation screen data is displayed on the display part 913.

[0831] If the customer specifies content data and its reproducing on thereproducing operation screen by an operating part 942 and a content dataspecifying command and a reproducing start command are given from theoperating part 942 to the main CPU 940 sequentially via the sub CPU 941and the I²C bus B2, the main CPU 940 reads the specifiedcompressively-coded content data (hereinafter, this is referred to ascompressed content data) from the data memory 945 via the memory bus B1.

[0832] Then, the main CPU 940 decodes the compressed content data readfrom the data memory 945. The main CPU 940 transmits the video data ofthus obtained content data to the timing generator 946, and converts theaudio data of the content data into an analog audio signal by adigital-to-analog converter 947 and sends the audio signal to theheadphone jack 919 via a headphone amplifier 948.

[0833] Thereby, the main CPU 940 displays the video of the content basedon the video data on the display part 913 via the timing generator 946,and outputs the sound of the content based on the audio signal fromheadphones (not shown) connected to the headphone jack 919. Thus, thecustomer can view the content.

[0834] If a memo input command is given from the operating part 942sequentially via the sub CPU 941 and the I²C bus B2, the main CPU 940picks up an object by the camera 925 for a predetermined time and takesin thus obtained video data. At this time, the main CPU 940 picks upsurrounding sound via the microphone 920 for a predetermined time, andtakes this in by converting thus obtained audio signal into digitalaudio data sequentially via a microphone amplifier 949 and ananalog-to-digital converter 950. The main CPU 940 compressively codesthese video data and audio data as memo data, and transmits this to thedata memory 945 via the memory bus B1 for storing.

[0835] In this connection, at this time, if a character string such as acomment on the memo is entered by the customer's operation of thecharacter input key group 914, the character type change key 915 and thecancel key 916, and it is sent to the main CPU 940 from the operatingpart 942 sequentially via the sub CPU 941 and the I²C bus B2 as textdata, the main CPU 940 adds the text data to the memo data andcompressively codes this, and stores thus obtained data in the datamemory 945.

[0836] If a reproducing start command for the memo data is sent from theoperating part 942 sequentially via the sub CPU 941 and the I²C bus B2,the main CPU 940 performs processing similarly to the reproducing of thecontent data described above. Thereby, the customer can confirm thecontent of the memo by the display part 913 and the headphones.

[0837] By the way, the main CPU 940 is electrically connected to aconnecter 953 provided on the bottom of the case sequentially via aperipheral component interconnect (PCI) bus B3, a bus switch 951, aspecified bus based on the PCI standard (hereinafter, this is referredto as PCI-based bus) B4, and a protection circuit 952.

[0838] The protection circuit 952 has a function to protect each circuitin the main body of the terminal 911 from the external staticelectricity and a function to prevent leakage of unnecessary radiationoccurred by data (signal) processing in the main body of the terminal911 to the outside.

[0839] Furthermore, the protection circuit 952 detects whether or notthe connector 929 of the regular cradle 912 is connected to theconnecter 953, and notifies the main CPU 940 of the detected result.

[0840] The main CPU 940 controls the bus switch 951 according to thedetected result notified from the protection circuit 952, so that untilthe connector 929 of the regular cradle 912 is connected to theconnecter 953, the main CPU 940 interrupts electrical connection to theprotection circuit 952, and only when the connector 929 of the regularcradle 912 is connected to the connecter 953, the main CPU 940electrically connects the main body of the terminal 911 to theprotection circuit 952 via the bus switch 951.

[0841] Thereby, even if an electronic device other than the cradle 912is erroneously connected to the connecter 953 and the above connecter953 short-circuited, the main CPU 940 can protect itself from crash orthe like.

[0842] Here, the cradle 912 takes power supply voltage supplied from theAC adapter 927 connected to the main power in an internal powermonitoring circuit 955 to convert the power supply voltage into internalvoltage at plural kinds of predetermined levels, and supplies them toeach corresponding circuit in the above cradle 912 respectively to startup each of these circuits.

[0843] If the main body of the terminal 911 is mounted on the cradle912, power supply voltage is converted into charge voltage at apredetermined level by the power monitoring circuit 955, and the chargevoltage is supplied to the battery pack 926 from the connector 929 viathe connecter 953 of the main body of the terminal 911 for charge.

[0844] If an operating request for communication is given to the mainCPU 940, from the operating part 942 sequentially via the sub CPU 941and the I²C bus B2 in the state where the main body of the terminal 911is mounted on the cradle 912, the main CPU 940 reads communicationoperating screen data from the system memory 943 via the memory bus B1,transmits this to the timing generator 946, and displays a communicationoperating screen based on the communication operating screen data on thedisplay part 913.

[0845] In this state, if the customer arbitrary selects either thepublic network or the Ethernet (trademark) on the communicationoperating screen by operating the operating part 942 and specifies auniform resource locator (URL) of the other party of communication,according to this, a command to selectively specify either of thecommunication lines, that URL and a sending command are given to themain CPU 940 from the operating part 942 sequentially via the sub CPU941 and the I²C bus B2. Thereby, the main CPU 940 generates accessrequest data for the other party of communication specified by the aboveURL.

[0846] If the Ethernet (trademark) is selected as the communication lineto be used in communication, the main CPU 940 compressively codes accessrequest data, and sends the compressed access request data from theconnecter 953 to the cradle 912 sequentially via the PCI bus B3, the busswitch 951, the PCI-based bus B4 and the protection circuit 952. In theabove cradle 912, the compressed access request data is sent from theEthernet jack 931 to the other party of communication via the Ethernet(trademark), sequentially via the connector 929, an Ethernet controller956 and an Ethernet interface 957.

[0847] Responding to the access request, if compressively-coded accessconfirmation data (hereinafter, this is referred to as compressed accessconfirmation data) is sent, from the other party of communication viathe Ethernet (trademark), the main CPU 940 receives this by theconnecter 953 from the Ethernet jack 931 of the cradle 912 sequentiallyvia the Ethernet interface 957, the Ethernet controller 956 and theconnector 929, and takes in from the connecter 953 sequentially via theprotection circuit 952, the PCI-based bus B4, the bus switch 951 and thePCI bus B3 for decoding.

[0848] Here, in the compressed access confirmation data sent from thesystem management server 701 to which the portable dedicated terminal910 can communicate (that is, communication has been permitted) or thedata providing server 703 installed in the agency, an identificationcode peculiar to the above system management server 701 or dataproviding server 703 (or agency) has been stored.

[0849] On the other hand, in the data memory 945 in the main body of theterminal 911, when the portable dedicated terminal 910 was sold orrented, the identification code peculiar to the communicable systemmanagement server 701 (that is, communication has been permitted) or thedata providing server 703 (or the agency) was stored.

[0850] Therefore, if the main CPU 940 decodes the access confirmationdata and generates access confirmation data, it compares theidentification code stored in the above access confirmation data withthe identification code previously stored in the data memory 945.

[0851] As a result, if the compared identification codes coincide, themain CPU 940 determines that the specified other party of communicationis a regular permitted party, and continues the communication. Thereby,the customer can request obtaining of content data, introducing of anadvertiser and/or a company, etc.

[0852] On the contrary, if the compared identification codes aredifferent from each other or the identification code has not been storedin the access confirmation data, the main CPU 940 judges the specifiedother party of communication not to be a permitted party, and forcedlystops the communication. Thus, it can be prevented that content data isillegally used by that the portable dedicated terminal 910 communicateswith a party not permitted.

[0853] The main CPU 940 can communicate only with a party previouslypermitted via the Ethernet (trademark) as the above. As a result, ifscreen data such as compressively-coded advertiser and/or companyintroducing data and content selecting screen data (hereinafter, theseare referred to as compressed screen data), and compressed content datafor advertisement and for obtaining is sent from the system managementserver 701 or the data providing server 703 being a permitted party viathe Ethernet (trademark), the main CPU 940 receives this via the samepath as the case of the aforementioned compressed access confirmationdata, and decodes this as occasion demands.

[0854] In this connection, if the main CPU 940 receives such compressedscreen data, the main CPU 940 decodes this, transmits the decoded datato the timing generator 946, and displays a screen based on the screendata on the display part 913.

[0855] When the main CPU 940 is connected to the other party ofcommunication previously permitted via the Ethernet (trademark), if thecustomer enters a content obtaining request or the like by the operatingpart 942 and the request is transmitted to the main CPU 940 sequentiallyvia the sub CPU 941 and the I2C bus B2, the main CPU 940 generatesrequest data based on the request, compressively codes the request data,and sends thus obtained compressed request data to the other party viathe Ethernet (trademark) by the same path as the case of theaforementioned compressed access confirmation data.

[0856] In this connection, to selectively specify a content that thecustomer wants to obtain, the customer enters the title of the content,or the numerals of a bar code corresponding to the content by theoperating part 942.

[0857] At this time, the main CPU 940 can pick up the picture of the barcode by the camera 925. In this case, the main CPU 940 can analyze thepicked-up image obtained from the camera 925 by a predetermined imagerecognition program, and the content can be specified.

[0858] If the customer selects a public network as a communication lineto be used for communication, the main CPU 940 compressively codes theaccess request data, and transmits the compressed access request data tothe sub CPU 941 via the I2C bus B2, as serial data.

[0859] The sub CPU 941 has a function as a universal asynchronousreceiver transmitter (UART) device. The sub CPU 941 converts thecompressed access request data into parallel data, and transmits thisfrom the connecter 953 to the cradle 912 via the protection circuit 952.In the cradle 912, the compressed access request data is sent from themodular jack 930 to the other party of communication via the publicnetwork sequentially via the connector 929 and a modem interface 958.

[0860] As a result, if the compressed access confirmation data is sentfrom the other party of communication via the public network, the mainCPU 940 takes this by in the connecter 953, from the modular jack 930 ofthe cradle 912 sequentially via the modem interface 958 and theconnector 929, transmits this to the sub CPU 941 via the protectioncircuit 952, converts this into serial data, and receives this via theI2C bus B2 for decoding.

[0861] Thereby, also when in using the public network, the main CPU 940compares the identification code stored in the access confirmation dataobtained by decoding the compressed access confirmation data with theidentification code stored in the data memory 945.

[0862] Only in the case where thus compared identification codes arecoincide, the main CPU 940 judges the accessing other party ofcommunication is the regular party previously permitted, and continuesthe communication via the public network.

[0863] Then, in the state where the main CPU 940 is connected to theother party of communication previously permitted via the publicnetwork, if the aforementioned compressed screen data is sent from thesystem management server 701 or the data providing server 703 being theother party of communication, the main CPU 940 takes this in the sub CPU941 from the modular jack 930, and performs processing similar to theaforementioned case of using the Ethernet (trademark).

[0864] In the state where the main CPU 940 is connected to the otherparty of communication previously permitted via the public network, ifthe customer enters the content obtaining request or the like by theoperating part 942 and the request is transmitted to the main CPU 940sequentially via the sub CPU 941 and the I²C bus B2, the main CPU 940generates request data based on the request, compressively codes therequest data, and transmits thus obtained compressed request data to theother party of communication via the public network by passing over thesub CPU 941 and the modular jack 930.

[0865] By the way, in either of the Ethernet (trademark) and the publicnetwork, for instance, if the main CPU 940 displays the contentselecting screen being a three-dimensional virtual reality space picturedescribed above with reference to FIGS. 29 to 31 on the display part913, it performs processing similar to the aforementioned portablededicated terminal 303 according to the sixth embodiment (FIGS. 28 to37).

[0866] If the main CPU 940 moves the picture of customer to thespecified coordinate position on the content selecting screen (thepicture of first floor in shop or the picture of second floor in shop),it compressively codes specified coordinate position data representingthat the above picture of customer moved to the specified coordinateposition, and sends the compressively-coded data to the data providingserver 703 via the Ethernet (trademark) or the public network that hasbeen selected.

[0867] At this time, if the data providing server 703 receives thespecified coordinate position data from the portable dedicated terminal910, it compressively codes content data for advertisement (that is,commercial data) specified by the above specified coordinate positiondata, and sends thus obtained compressed content data to the portablededicated terminal 910 via the Ethernet (trademark) or the publicnetwork that is the same path as the sending path of thecompressively-coded specified coordinate position data in streaming,according to the user datagram protocol/Internet protocol (UDP/IP).

[0868] As a result, if the main CPU 940 takes in the compressed contentdata for advertisement sent from the data providing server 703, ittemporarily stores this in the SDRAM 944.

[0869] The main CPU 940 reads the compressed content data foradvertisement from the SDRAM 944 and decodes this. In video data andaudio data forming the obtained content data, the main CPU 940 transmitsthe video data to the timing generator 946, and converts the audio datainto an analog audio signal by the digital-to-analog converter 947, andtransmits the audio signal to the headphone jack 919 via the headphoneamplifier 948.

[0870] Thereby, the main CPU 940 displays the pictures of a content foradvertisement based on the video data on the display part 913 by thetiming generator 946, and outputs the sound of the content foradvertisement based on the audio signal from the headphones connected tothe headphone jack 919. Thus, the customer can view a part of thecontent, as advertisement.

[0871] In this manner, the main CPU 940 reproduces in streaming thecompressed content data for advertisement that was sent in streamingfrom the system management server 701 and the data providing server 703being the regular other party of communication, by using the SDRAM 944as buffer.

[0872] If desired content data is selectively specified on the contentselecting screen being a three-dimensional virtual reality space picturedisplayed on the display part 913, the main CPU 940 compressively codescontent specifying data representing the above specified content data,and sends the compressively-coded data to the data providing server 703via the Ethernet (trademark) or the public network that has beenselected at this time.

[0873] At this time, if the data providing server 703 receives thecontent specifying data from the portable dedicated terminal 910, itcompressively codes the content data for obtaining specified by theabove content specifying data, and sends thus obtained compressedcontent data to the portable dedicated terminal 910 via the Ethernet(trademark) or the public network that is the same path as the sendingpath of the compressively-coded content specifying data, according tothe transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP).

[0874] If the main CPU 940 receives the compressed content data forobtaining sent from the data providing server 703, the main CPU 940temporarily stores this in the SDRAM 944 as it is compressed, andtransmits this in the data memory 945 for recording via the memory busB1 while using the above SDRAM 944 as buffer.

[0875] In this manner, when the main CPU 940 obtains compressed contentdata or the like from the system management server 701 or the dataproviding server 703, the main CPU 940 uses the SDRAM 944 as buffer.Thereby, the data can be downloaded while preventing occurrence of anerror in the data processing.

[0876] In addition to this, when the main body of the terminal 911 ismounted on the cradle 912, the customer can arbitrary select either thedisplay part 913 and the headphone jack 919 of the main body of theterminal 911 or an external device such as a television receiving setand a reproducing operation screen displayed on the display part 913, asmeans for viewing reproduced content data.

[0877] If the customer selects the display part 913 and the headphonejack 919 of the main body of the terminal 911 on the reproducingoperation screen and a command to selectively specify the display part913 and the headphone jack by the operating part 942, the main CPU 940receives information of that (with a command to specify content data anda reproducing start command) sequentially via the sub CPU 941 and theI²C bus B2 reproduces the compressed content data from the data memory945, and decodes the reproduced data similarly to the aforementionedcase where the main body of the terminal 911 is not mounted on thecradle 912. Thus, the customer can view the content by the display part913 and the headphones.

[0878] On the contrary, if the customer selects the external device asmeans for viewing reproduced content data on the reproducing operationscreen and a command to selectively specify the external device by theoperating part 942, the main CPU 940 receives information of that (withthe command to selectively specify the content data and the reproducingstart command) sequentially via the sub CPU 941 and the I²C bus B2, andreads the specified compressed content data from the data memory 945 viathe memory bus B1.

[0879] The main CPU 940 decodes the compressed content data. In thevideo data and audio data forming thus obtained content data, the mainCPU 940 converts the video data into an analog video signal by adigital-to-analog converter 959 for video, and transmits the videosignal from the connecter 953 to the cradle 912 via the protectioncircuit 952, and sends that video signal from the video output terminal932 to the external device via the connector 929 in the above cradle912.

[0880] At that time, the main CPU 940 converts the audio data formingthe content data into an analog audio signal by the digital-to-analogconverter 947, and transmits the audio signal from the connecter 953 tothe cradle 912 via the protection circuit 952, converts that audiosignal into an analog audio signal of the left and the right twochannels via a power amplifier 960 in the above cradle 912, and thensends the audio signal from the audio output terminal 933 to theexternal device.

[0881] Thereby, the customer can enjoy the content for example by alarge screen display and a speaker with high quality sound, by using notonly the main body of the terminal 911 but also the external device.

[0882] Furthermore, when the main body of the terminal 911 is mounted onthe cradle 912, the main CPU 940 performs processing not only thecontent data but also memo data similarly, so that the customer canconfirm the contents of the memo by either of the display part 913 andthe headphones of the main body of the terminal 911 and the externaldevice.

[0883] Note that, in this tenth embodiment, the main CPU 940 controlsthe system memory 943 and the data memory 945 via a control bus B5, andcontrols the digital-to-analog converter 947 and the analog-to-digitalconverter 950 for video and audio, via the I²C bus B2.

[0884] Furthermore, when in generating obtaining request data forcontent data, the main CPU 940 stores content specifying informationthat specifies a desired content by its title, bar code or the like,whether the content data was purchased or rented, payment information onthe purchase price and the rental charges for the content data (aspaying method, for example, payment by credit), the customer ID, etc.,in the above obtaining request data.

[0885] Whenever the data providing server 703 receives the obtainingrequest data from the portable dedicated terminal 910, the dataproviding server 703 performs accounting based on the customerinformation on the customer who requested to obtain the content (theaccount number of the customer), the selling price and the rentalcharges for the content data, and the account number of the agency atthe dealing bank.

[0886] As a result, the data providing server 703 generates accountinginformation on the sale or the rental of the content data, and sends theabove generated accounting information to a settlement processing servervia the Internet 707. In the settlement-processing server, electronicalsettlement processing based on that accounting information is executed.

[0887] Accordingly, the portable dedicated terminal 910 enables the userto obtain content data and pay for the content data or the rentalcharges for the content data while being at home without going to theagency.

[0888] According to the above configuration, in this data providingsystem 900, the character input key group 914 being ten keys is providedin the portable dedicated terminal 910. Thereby, the customer canselectively specify a content for obtaining by entering the numerals ofa bar code corresponding to the content by the above character input keygroup 914.

[0889] Furthermore, in this data providing system 900, the camera 925 isprovided in the portable dedicated terminal 910. Thereby, the picture ofthe bar code corresponding to a content can be picked up by the camera925, and the customer can selectively specify the content for obtainingby taking the picture of the bar code.

[0890] Accordingly, in this data providing system 900, when the customerselectively specifies a content for obtaining by the portable dedicatedterminal 910, the customer can easily selectively specify a desiredcontent only by simply entering the numerals or taking the picture ofthe bar code with the camera 925, without entering plural characterssuch as the title of the content.

[0891] According to the above configuration, the portable dedicatedterminal 910 having the character input key group 914 being ten keys andthe camera 925 for pattern recognition is used. Thereby, in the portablededicated terminal 910, in addition to the effects obtained in theaforementioned ninth embodiment, the customer can easily selectivelyspecify a desired content by simply entering the numerals with thecharacter input key group 914 or only by taking the picture of the barcode with the camera 925. Thereby, a data providing system in that theusability of a portable dedicated terminal is improved and the customercan remarkably easily use can be realized.

[0892] Note that, in the aforementioned tenth embodiment, in theportable dedicated terminal 910, it has dealt with the case where themain CPU 940 of the main body of the terminal 911 executes the similarprocessing to the recording control part 81, the reproducing controlpart 84 and the request data generating part 86 described above withreference to FIG. 4, the request data generating part 241, the recordingcontrol part 245 and the reproducing control part 248 described abovewith reference to FIG. 11, the request data generating part 270described above with reference to FIG. 25, the reproducing control part342, the request data generating part 344 and the recording control part347 described above with reference to FIG. 28, the operationalinformation judging part 541, the request data generating part 542, thejudging part 545, the recording control part 546 and the reproducingcontrol part 548 described above with reference to FIG. 38, and therequest data generating part 630 described above with reference to FIG.45, according to the various programs previously stored in the systemmemory 943. However, this invention is not only limited to this but alsothese various processing may be executed by providing a program storingmedium storing these various programs in the main body of the terminal911.

[0893] In this connection, such program storing medium is not onlylimited to packaged media such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, and a DVDbut also it may be a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, etc., thatcan temporarily or permanently store the various programs. Furthermore,as means for storing the various programs in the program storing medium,also a cable or radio communication medium such as a local area network,the Internet, and digital satellite broadcasting may be used, and theymay be stored via various communication interfaces such as a rooter anda modem.

[0894] In the aforementioned tenth embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where the portable dedicated terminal 910 only can communicate withthe specified other party of communication previously permitted based onthe identification code. However, this invention is not only limited tothis but also, after the user started to use the portable dedicatedterminal 910, the customer may newly contract with an agency or the likeand obtain an identification code peculiar to the agency so that theuser can communicate with plural agencies or the like by one portablededicated terminal 910. Thereby, for instance, it becomes unnecessary toprepare a portable dedicated terminal 910 in each agency, and oneportable dedicated terminal 910 can be used as a common dedicatedterminal for the plural agencies or the like. Thus, the usability of theportable dedicated terminal 910 can be further improved.

[0895] In the aforementioned tenth embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where the main body of the terminal 911 of the portable dedicatedterminal 910 works by battery voltage supplied from the detachablebattery pack 926. However, this invention is not only limited to thisbut also the main body of the terminal 911 of the portable dedicatedterminal 910 may work by mounting an exchangeable primary batterytherein, or the main body of the terminal 911 may work either of thebattery pack and the primary battery. Thereby, the customer can easilyexchange the primary battery when the customer is going out, and can usethe portable dedicated terminal 910 for a long time.

[0896] Furthermore, in the aforementioned tenth embodiment, it has dealtwith the case where the data providing server 703 generates accountinginformation every time when the data providing server 703 receivedcontent obtaining request data, and electronical settlement processingbased on that accounting information is executed in the settlementprocessing server. However, this invention is not only limited to thisbut also the data providing server 703 or the system management server701 may constantly and collectively generate accounting information forexample once a month or once two weeks, or it may integrate generatedaccounting information every time when the data providing server 703received obtaining request data, and settlement processing may beexecuted in the settlement processing server at that constant timing.

[0897] (12) Eleventh Embodiment

[0898]FIG. 63 shows a data providing system 1100 according to aneleventh embodiment. A content server 1102 corresponding to the systemmanagement site 2 and the sales company 5 described above with referenceto FIGS. 1 to 3, a request terminal 1103 corresponding to the customer 3described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 (that is, the requestterminal used by the customer 3), and a portable dedicated terminal 1104that corresponds to the portable dedicated terminals 7A to 7N describedabove with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, is dedicated to the agencies 4A to4N, and is accessible only the data providing server 1101, are connectedto the data providing server 1101 corresponding to the agencies 4A to 4Ndescribed above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 via the Internet (notshown), respectively.

[0899] In this case, the content server 1102 is installed in a salescompany that deals in many packaged media respectively storing one orplural content data. In a content database 1110, a package data tablegenerated by listing package additional information such as the title ofeach packaged media that the above sales company deals in (title ofmotion picture, album CD, single CD, etc.), the detailed contents of thepackaged media (titles of plural tunes (content data) stored in album CDor single CD, artist name, manufacturing company of packaged media,content identification information peculiar to each content data storedin packaged media, etc.), and package identification informationpeculiar to the packaged media, has been stored.

[0900] In the content database 1110, many content data previouslycompressively coded by one or more kinds of compression coding methods,and content identification information peculiar to the abovecompressively-coded content data (hereinafter, this is referred to ascompressed content data) (same as the aforementioned contentidentification information peculiar to the content data), have beenpreviously stored by making a correspondence.

[0901] In the content database 1110, a content data table generated bylisting content additional information such as the contentidentification information corresponding to the compressed content datain the content database 1110, the title of the content data (title oftunes, title of work, etc.), artist name, the manufacturing company ofthe content data, and a compression coding method that was used for thecompression coding of the compressed content data, has been stored.

[0902] In this connection, for the compression coding of content data,according to the manufacturing company of the content data or the like,plural kinds of compression coding methods such as the adaptivetransform acoustic coding 3 (ATRAC3) (trademark), moving picture expertsgroup (MPEG)-1 audio layer 3 (MP3) (trademark), moving picture expertsgroup-2 advanced audio coding (MPEG-2 AAC) (trademark), QDesign MusicCodec (trademark), transform-domain weighted interleave vectorquantization (TwinVQ) (trademark), Microsoft audio (MS Audio)(trademark) (another name is Windows media audio (WMA) (trademark), andOgg Vorbis (trademark), have been used.

[0903] On the other hand, the data providing server 1101 is installed inan agency. If the above agency buys a part of many packaged media thatthe sales company deals in, sale/rental, package additional datarepresenting package additional information corresponding to the abovebought packaged media is supplied from the content server 1102. Theabove supplied package additional data is received by a receiving part1111, and taken in a data updating/retrieving part 1112.

[0904] In addition to this, at this time, in many compressed contentdata stored in the content database 1110, a part of compressed contentdata is supplied from the content server 1102 to the data providingserver 1101 with content additional data that represents contentadditional information corresponding to the compressed content data.They are received by the receiving part 1111, and taken in the dataupdating/retrieving part 1112.

[0905] By the data updating/retrieving part 1112, the data providingserver 1101 lists the package additional information based on thepackage additional data, and generates a package data table, and alsolists the content additional information based on the content additionaldata, and generates a content data table. The above generated packagedata table and content data table are stored in a content database 1113.

[0906] Furthermore, the data providing server 1101 stores the compressedcontent data and the content identification information in the contentdatabase 1113 by making a correspondence, by the dataupdating/retrieving part 1112.

[0907] In this manner, the data providing server 1101 can sell/rentcompressed content data obtained from the content server 1102 to thecustomer.

[0908] In order to answer every obtaining request of content data fromthe customer, as described later, the data providing server 1101 alsocan sell/rent not only the compressed content data stored in the contentserver 1102 but also content data stored in packaged media that theagency and the sales company deal in to the customer as compressedcontent data.

[0909] Practically, if registration request data for requesting acustomer registration is sent from the request terminal 1103 operated bythe customer, the data providing server 1101 receives this by thereceiving part 1111, and takes this in a customer updating/retrievingpart 1114.

[0910] The data providing server 1101 reads customer registration screendata previously stored in a customer database 1115 based on theregistration request data by the customer updating/retrieving part 1114,and sends this from a sending part 1116 to the request terminal 1103.

[0911] As a result, if customer information such as the name, theaddress, and the telephone number of the customer, that was entered onthe customer registration screen based on the customer registrationscreen data is sent from the request terminal 1103 to the data providingserver 1101 as customer data, the data providing server 1101 receivesthis by the receiving part 1111, and takes this in the customerupdating/retrieving part 1114.

[0912] Thereby, the data providing server 1101 issues a customer ID tothe customer who requests a registration and adds this to customerinformation based on the customer data, and stores the above customerinformation with the customer ID in the customer database 1115 ascustomer registration information, and registers the customer, by thecustomer updating/retrieving part 1114.

[0913] In this connection, if the customer is registered by the customerupdating/retrieving part 1114, the data providing server 1101 generatesregistration completion data that includes the customer ID, and sendsthis from the sending part 1116 to the request terminal 1103 to notifythe customer of the completion of customer registration and the customerID.

[0914] If obtaining request data for requesting the obtaining of contentdata (including the customer ID) is sent from the request terminal 1103,the data providing server 1101 receives this by the receiving part 1111,and takes this in the customer updating/retrieving part 1114.

[0915] At this time, the data providing server 1101 retrieves customerregistration information in the customer database 1115 based on theobtaining request data (i.e., the customer ID), and detects whether ornot the customer who requested the obtaining of content data is aregular customer registered as a customer, by the customerupdating/retrieving part 1114.

[0916] If that the customer requesting the obtaining of content data isnot a regular customer is detected by the customer updating/retrievingpart 1114, the data providing server 1101 stops the acceptance of thecontent data obtaining request from the customer, and notifies thecustomer of the stop of the acceptance of the obtaining request from thesending part 1116 via the request terminal 1103, and urges the customerto a customer registration.

[0917] On the contrary, if that the customer requesting the obtaining ofcontent data is a regular customer is detected by the customerupdating/retrieving part 1114, the data providing server 1101 transmitsthe obtaining request data to the data updating/retrieving part 1112.

[0918] In this case, the data providing server 1101 reads contentselecting screen data previously stored in the content database 1113based on the obtaining request data by the data updating/retrieving part1112, and sends thus read data from the sending part 1116 to the requestterminal 1103.

[0919] In this connection, the data providing server 1101 can make thecustomer select every compressed content data stored in the contentserver 1102 and every content data stored in packaged media that thesales company deals in as content data to be obtained, by a contentselecting screen based on the content selecting screen data.

[0920] As a result, if content specifying information representing thepurchase of desired content data (hereinafter, this is referred to asspecified content data), whether or not the data is rented, and thetitle of the above specified content data or the like, and terminalspecifying information representing a purchase for the portablededicated terminal 1104 to record the specified content data ascompressed content data, whether or not the data is rented or not, aspecified compression coding method wanted by the customer to be used inthe compression coding of the above specified content data (hereinafter,this is referred to as specified compression coding method) or the like,are entered on the content selecting screen based on the contentselecting screen data as reservation information with the customer ID,and reservation data representing the above reservation information issent from the request terminal 1103, the data providing server 1101receives this by the receiving part 1111, and takes this in the customerupdating/retrieving part 1114.

[0921] In this case, in the agency, plural kinds of portable dedicatedterminals (not shown) applying a decoding method corresponding to theaforementioned plural kinds of compression coding methods are preparedfor sale and rental.

[0922] The data providing server 1101 selects a portable dedicatedterminal to be sold/rented to the customer, applying a specifieddecoding method corresponding to the specified compression coding methodincluded in the reservation data (heretofore, this is referred to asspecified decoding method), and updates the above customer registrationinformation by adding terminal identification information peculiar tothe above portable dedicated terminal previously recorded in the aboveselected portable dedicated terminal and the specified compressioncoding method to the customer registration information in the customerdatabase 1115, by the customer updating/retrieving part 1114.

[0923] In this manner, the data providing server 1101 can prepare aportable dedicated terminal to sell/rent this to the customer, and alsocan identify customer's portable dedicated terminal by the customerregistration information (terminal identification information).

[0924] Then, the data providing server 1101 transmits the reservationdata and the customer ID of the customer requesting the obtaining of thespecified content data and the portable dedicated terminal 1104, fromthe customer updating/retrieving part 1114 to the dataupdating/retrieving part 1112.

[0925] The data providing server 1101 retrieves content additionalinformation in the content data table in the content database 1113 basedon the reservation data, and detects whether or not compressed contentdata generated by compressively coding the specified content data by thespecified compression coding method (hereinafter, this is referred to asspecified compressed content data) has been stored in the contentdatabase 1113, by the data updating/retrieving part 1112.

[0926] If that the specified compressed content data has been stored inthe content database 1113 is detected by the data updating/retrievingpart 1112, the data providing server 1101 reads that specifiedcompressed content data from the above content database 1113.

[0927] In this case, the portable dedicated terminal prepared for thesale/rental to the customer (that is, before it is delivered to thecustomer) is directly connected to the dedicated terminal of the dataproviding server 1101 (not shown) via a cable or the like.

[0928] The data providing server 1101 transmits the specified compressedcontent data read from the content database 1113 from the dedicatedterminal to the portable dedicated terminal with the customer ID via thecable or the like. They are recorded in the portable dedicated terminal.

[0929] On the contrary, in the case where the previous reservation hasbeen accepted, if that the specified compressed content data has notbeen stored in the content database 1113 is detected by the dataupdating/retrieving part 1112, the data providing server 1101successively retrieves package additional information in the packagedata table in the content database 1113 based on the reservation data bythe data updating/retrieving part 1112.

[0930] As a result, if that the agency deals in packaged media storingthe specified content data being the original data of the specifiedcompressed content data is detected by the data updating/retrieving part1112, the data providing server 1101 notifies a reproducing part 1117being a changer of the packaged media storing the above specifiedcontent data (that is, package identification information) and thatspecified content data (that is, content identification information),and also notifies a compressing part 1118 that cope with variouscompression coding methods of the content identification information andthe specified compression coding method of the specified content data.

[0931] In this case, the data providing server 1101 selects the packagedmedia storing the specified content data from among many packaged mediathat the agency deals in for sale and rental, and reproduces thatspecified content data from the above selected packaged media by thereproducing part 1117, and transmits the above reproduced specifiedcontent data to the compressing part 1118.

[0932] The data providing server 1101 compressively codes the specifiedcontent data supplied from the reproducing part 1117 by the specifiedcompression coding method by the compressing part 1118. Thus obtainedspecified compressed content data is stored in the content database 1113by making a correspondence to the content identification information.

[0933] The data providing server 1101 generates new content additionalinformation based on the package additional information corresponding tothe specified compressed content data stored in the content database1113, and updates the content data table by adding the above generatedcontent additional information to the content data table in the contentdatabase 1113, by the data updating/retrieving part 1112.

[0934] The data providing server 1101 reads the specified compressedcontent data newly stored from the content database 1113 by the dataupdating/retrieving part 1112, and records this in the portablededicated terminal before it is delivered to the customer with thecustomer ID.

[0935] Furthermore, in the case where the previous registration has beenaccepted, if the specified compressed content data has not been storedin the content database 1113 and the package additional information inthe package data table in the content database 1113 is retrieved basedon the reservation data by the data updating/retrieving part 1112, andthat the agency does not deal in the packaged media storing thespecified content data is detected, the data providing server 1101generates content request data D50 shown in FIG. 64, and sends this fromthe sending part 1116 to the content server 1102.

[0936] Here, in the content request data D50, content specifyinginformation representing an artist name, a title (title of tune), amanufacturing company (record company), and specified compression codingmethod (e.g., ATRAC3 (trademark)) or the like, that correspond to thespecified compressed content data, is stored.

[0937] As a result that the data providing server 1101 sent the contentrequest data D50 to the content server 1102, if specified compressedcontent data D51 and corresponding content additional data D52 are sentfrom the above content server 1102 as shown in FIG. 64, the dataproviding server 1101 receives them by the receiving part 1111, andtakes them in the data updating/retrieving part 1112.

[0938] The data providing server 1101 adds content additionalinformation based on the content additional data D52 to the content datatable in the content database 1113 and updates the above content datatable by the data updating/retrieving part 1112, and stores thespecified compressed content data D51 in the content database 1113 bymaking a correspondence to content identification information.

[0939] Then, the data providing server 1101 records the specifiedcompressed content data D51 obtained from the content server 1102 andthe customer ID in the portable dedicated terminal before it isdelivered to the customer, by the data updating/retrieving part 1112.

[0940] In this manner, the data providing server 1101 accepts theprevious reservation of the purchase/rental of the specified contentdata and the portable dedicated terminal 1104 requested by the customerby means of the request terminal 1103, and prepares the portablededicated terminal 1104 in which the above specified content data hasbeen recorded as specified compressed content data. Thereby, forinstance, when the customer comes to the shop, that portable dedicatedterminal 1104 can be delivered and sold/rented to the customer.

[0941] Then, if obtaining request data for requesting the obtaining(purchase/rental) of desired content data (including the customer ID ofthe customer previously recorded and terminal identificationinformation) is sent from the portable dedicated terminal 1104sold/rented to the customer, the data providing server 1101 receivesthis by the receiving part 1111, and takes this in the customerupdating/retrieving part 1114.

[0942] At this time, the data providing server 1101 retrieves thecustomer registration information in the customer database 1115 based onthe obtaining request data (i.e., customer ID), and detects whether ornot the customer who requested to obtain (purchase/rental) the specifiedcontent data is a regular customer registered as a customer, by thecustomer updating/retrieving part 1114.

[0943] If that the customer requesting to obtain the specified contentdata is a regular customer is detected by the customerupdating/retrieving part 1114, the data providing server 1101 comparesterminal identification information included in the customerregistration information on that customer in the content database 1113with the terminal identification information included in the obtainingrequest data, to detect whether or not the above customer is using theauthorized portable dedicated terminal 1104 bought/rented from theagency, successively, by the customer updating/retrieving part 1114.

[0944] If that the regular customer requesting to obtain the specifiedcontent data is using the authorized portable dedicated terminal 1104 isdetected, the data providing server 1101 transmits the obtaining requestdata to the data updating/retrieving part 1112.

[0945] At this time, the data providing server 1101 reads contentselecting screen data from the content database 1113 based on theobtaining request data by the data updating/retrieving part 1112, andsends the above read content selecting screen data from the sending part1116 to the portable dedicated terminal 1104 of the customer.

[0946] As a result, if specifying information for the specified contentdata is entered on a content selecting screen based on the contentselecting screen data and content specifying data D53 shown in FIG. 65representing the above specifying information is sent from the portablededicated terminal 1104, the data providing server 1101 receives this bythe receiving part 1111, and takes this in the customerupdating/retrieving part 1114.

[0947] In this connection, in the content specifying data D53, asspecifying information, information such as the customer's name,customer ID, terminal identification information on the portablededicated terminal 1104 used by the customer, password, type ofspecified content data, genre, artist, title (title of tune), andmanufacturing company (record company) will be stored.

[0948] The data providing server 1101 specifies the customerregistration information on the customer in the customer database 1115based on the customer ID included in the content specifying data D53(that is, the customer who requested to purchase/rent the specifiedcontent data), by the customer updating/retrieving part 1114.

[0949] Then, the data providing server 1101 reads information on aspecified compression coding method corresponding to the terminalidentification information stored in the content specifying data D53 inthe specified customer registration information (that is, information ona compression coding method corresponding to a specified decoding methodapplied to the portable dedicated terminal 1104 used by the customer)from the customer database 1115 by the customer updating/retrieving part1114, adds the above read information on the specified compressioncoding method to the content specifying data D53, and transmits them tothe data updating/retrieving part 1112.

[0950] The data providing server 1101 retrieves content additionalinformation in the content data table in the content database 1113 basedon the information on the specified compression coding method and thecontent specifying data D53, and detects whether or not the specifiedcompressed content data has been stored in the content database 1113, bythe data updating/retrieving part 1112.

[0951] As a result, if that the specified compressed content data hasbeen stored in the content database 1113 is detected by the dataupdating/retrieving part 1112, the data providing server 1101 reads thatspecified compressed content data D51 from the above content database1113, and sends this from the sending part 1116 to the portablededicated terminal 1104. This data is recorded in the portable dedicatedterminal 1104.

[0952] On the contrary, if that the specified compressed content dataD51 has not been stored in the content database 1113 is detected by thedata updating/retrieving part 1112, the data providing server 1101retrieves the package additional information in the package data tablein the content database 1113 based on the information on the specifiedcompression coding method and the content specifying data D53,successively, by the data updating/retrieving part 1112.

[0953] As a result, if that the agency deals in packaged media storingthe specified content data being the original data of the specifiedcompressed content data D51 is detected by the data updating/retrievingpart 1112, the data providing server 1101 notifies the reproducing part1117 of the packaged media storing the above specified content data(that is, package identification information) and the specified contentdata (that is, content identification information), and notifies thecompressing part 1118 of the content identification information and thespecified compression coding method of the above specified content data.

[0954] Then, the data providing server 1101 selects the packaged mediastoring the specified content data from among many packaged media thatthe agency deals in for sale and rental, and reproduces that specifiedcontent data by the reproducing part 1117. In the compressing part 1118,the data providing server 1101 compressively codes the specified contentdata by the specified compression coding method, and stores thusobtained specified compressed content data in the content database 1113by making a correspondence to the content identification information.

[0955] The data providing server 1101 generates new content additionalinformation based on package additional information corresponding to thespecified compressed content data stored in the content database 1113,adds the above generated content additional information to the contentdata table in the content database 1113, and updates the above contentdata table, by the data updating/retrieving part 1112.

[0956] The data providing server 1101 reads the specified compressedcontent data newly stored from the content database 1113, and sends theabove read specified compressed content data from the sending part 1116to the portable dedicated terminal 1104 by the data updating/retrievingpart 1112. This data is recorded in the portable dedicated terminal1104.

[0957] Furthermore, as a result that the specified compressed contentdata has not been stored in the content database 1113 and packageadditional information in the package data table in the content database1113 is retrieved based on the reservation data by the dataupdating/retrieving part 1112, if that the agency does not deal inpackaged media storing the specified content data is detected, as shownin FIG. 65, the data providing server 1101 generates content requestdata D50, and sends this from the sending part 1116 to the contentserver 1102.

[0958] As a result, if the specified compressed content data D51 andcorresponding content additional data D52 are sent from the contentserver 1102, the data providing server 1101 receives them by thereceiving part 1111, and takes them in the data updating/retrieving part1112.

[0959] The data providing server 1101 adds content additionalinformation based on the content additional data D52 to the content datatable in the content database 1113, updates the above content datatable, and stores the specified compressed content data D51 in thecontent database 1113 by making a correspondence to the contentidentification information, by the data updating/retrieving part 1112.

[0960] Then, the data providing server 1101 sends the specifiedcompressed content data D51 obtained from that content server 1102, fromthe sending part 1116 to the portable dedicated terminal 1104 by thedata updating/retrieving part 1112. This data is recorded in theportable dedicated terminal 1104.

[0961] In this manner, the data providing server 1101 sends thespecified compressed content data to the portable dedicated terminal1104 sold/rented to the customer via the Internet. Thus, the customercan buy/rent specified compressed content data by means of the portablededicated terminal 1104.

[0962] In this connection, by the detection of whether or not thecustomer requesting the obtaining of specified content data is a regularcustomer, if that the above customer is not a regular customer isdetected by the customer updating/retrieving part 1114, the dataproviding server 1101 stops the acceptance of the obtaining request ofthe specified content data, and notifies a communication device such asthe portable dedicated terminal that the customer used to send theobtaining request data (for instance, a portable dedicated terminal thatwas illegally obtained), and a personal computer, of the stop of theacceptance of the obtaining request from the sending part 1116.

[0963] Furthermore, if that the customer requesting the obtaining of thespecified content data is a regular customer registered as a customerbut the customer uses a communication device such as another personalcomputer different from the authorized portable dedicated terminal 1104is detected based on the terminal identification information by thecustomer updating/retrieving part 1114, the data providing server 1101stops accepting the obtaining request of the specified content data fromthe customer, and notifies that communication terminal of the stop ofthe acceptance of the obtaining request from the sending part 1116.

[0964] By the way, the data providing server 1101 constantly retrieves acontent database in the content database 1113 by the dataupdating/retrieving part 1112. Thereby, a compression coding method thatis most frequently used for the specified compressed content data D51newly stored in the above content database 1113 according to theobtaining request by the customer (hereinafter, this is referred to asmost-frequently-used compression coding method) is detected.

[0965] The data providing server 1101 compares the number of times ofusing the most-frequently-used compression coding method to apredetermined threshold value previously set, by the dataupdating/retrieving part 1112.

[0966] If the number of times of using the most-frequently-usedcompression coding method is larger than the threshold value, the dataproviding server 1101 judges that at that point in time, the use of themost-frequently-used compression coding method is mainstream among thecustomers who use the data providing server 1101 to obtain specifiedcontent data and a possibility that the most-frequently-used compressioncoding method is specified when the customer obtains specified contentdata is remarkably high, by the data updating/retrieving part 1112.

[0967] Therefore, if the number of times of using themost-frequently-used compression coding method is larger than thethreshold value, the data providing server 1101 detects compressedcontent data that has not been compressively coded by themost-frequently-used compression coding method from among everycompressed content data stored in the content database 1113 by the dataupdating/retrieving part 1112.

[0968] Then, the data providing server 1101 compressively codes contentdata being the original data of that detected compressed content data bythe most-frequently-used compression coding method by means of packagedmedia and the content server 1102 that the agency deals in, andadditionally stores thus obtained compressed content data in the contentdatabase 1113, by the data updating/retrieving part 1112.

[0969] Since the data providing server 1101 prepares the specifiedcompressed content data D51 compressively coded by the abovemost-frequently-used compression coding method in advance, whenobtaining specified content data is requested by the customer, even ifthe most-frequently-used compression coding method is specified as aspecified compression coding method for the above specified contentdata, the specified compressed content data D51 can be rapidly providedto the customer.

[0970] On the other hand, the content server 1102 receives the contentrequest data D50 sent from the data providing server 1101 (FIGS. 64 and65) by a receiving part 1120, and takes this in a dataupdating/retrieving part 1121.

[0971] In this case, the content server 1102 retrieves contentadditional information in the content data table in the content database1110 based on the content request data D50, and detects whether or notthe specified compressed content data D51 has been stored in the contentdatabase 1110, by the data updating/retrieving part 1121.

[0972] As a result, if the specified compressed content data D51 hasbeen stored in the content database 1110 is detected by the dataupdating/retrieving part 1121, the data providing server 1101 reads thatspecified compressed content data D51 and content additional data D52corresponding to this from the above content database 1110, and sendsthem from a sending part 1122 to the data providing server 1101.

[0973] On the contrary, if that the specified compressed content dataD51 has not been stored in the content database 1110 is detected by thedata updating/retrieving part 1121 (that is, in the case where thespecified compressed content data D51 has not been stored completely orthe specified content data has been stored by compressively coding by adifferent compression coding method from the specified compressioncoding method), the content server 1102 successively retrieves packageadditional information in the package data table in the content database1110 based on the content request data D50 by the dataupdating/retrieving part 1121.

[0974] As a result, the content server 1102 detects packaged mediastoring the specified content data being the original data of thespecified compressed content data by the data updating/retrieving part1121, notifies a reproducing part 1123 being a changer of the abovedetected packaged media (that is, package identification information)and the specified content data (that is, content identificationinformation), and notifies a compressing part 1124 cope with variouscompression coding methods of the content identification information andthe specified compression coding method of the above specified contentdata.

[0975] The content server 1102 selects packaged media storing thespecified content data from among many packaged media that the salescompany deals in, reproduces that specified content data from the aboveselected packaged media by the reproducing part 1123, and transmits thisto the compressing part 1124.

[0976] The content server 1102 compressively codes the specified contentdata supplied from the reproducing part 1123 by the specifiedcompression coding method by the compressing part 1124, and stores thusobtained specified compressed content data D51 in the content database1110 by making a correspondence to the content identificationinformation.

[0977] Thereby, the content server 1102 reads the newly-stored specifiedcompressed content data D51 from the content database 1110 by the dataupdating/retrieving part 1121, generates new content additionalinformation based on the package additional information corresponding tothe above read specified compressed content data D51, and sends contentadditional data D52 representing the above generated content additionalinformation and the read specified compressed content data D51 from thesending part 1122 to the data providing server 1101.

[0978] In this connection, at this time, the content server 1102 addsthe content additional information newly generated to the content datatable in the content database 1110, and updates the above content datatable by the data updating/retrieving part 1121.

[0979] By the way, the content server 1102 constantly retrieves a datatable in the content database 1110 by the data updating/retrieving part1121 similarly to the data providing server 1101, and detects themost-frequently-used compression coding method for the specifiedcompressed content data D51 newly stored in the above content database1110 according to the request from the data providing server 1101.

[0980] The content server 1102 compares the number of times of using themost-frequently-used compression coding method to a predeterminedthreshold value previously set, by the data updating/retrieving part1112. If the number of times of using the most-frequently-usedcompression coding method is larger than the threshold value, thecontent server 1102 judges that at that point in time, the use of themost-frequently-used compression coding method is mainstream among thecustomers who use the data providing server 1101 to obtain specifiedcontent data and a possibility that the most-frequently-used compressioncoding method is specified when the customer obtains specified contentdata is remarkably high.

[0981] Therefore, if the number of times of using themost-frequently-used compression coding method is larger than thethreshold value, the content server 1102 detects compressed content datathat is not compressively coded by the most-frequently-used compressioncoding method from among every compressed content data stored in thecontent database 1110 by the data updating/retrieving part 1121.

[0982] Then, the data providing server 1102 reproduces content databeing the original data of that detected compressed content data frompackaged media that the sales company deals in, compressively codes thisby the most-frequently-used compression coding method, and additionallystores thus obtained compressed content data in the content database1110.

[0983] Since the content server 1102 prepares the specified compressedcontent data D51 compressively coded by the above most-frequently-usedcompression coding method in advance, when obtaining the specifiedcontent data is requested from the data providing server 1101, even ifthe most-frequently-used compression coding method is specified as aspecified compression coding method for the above specified contentdata, the specified compressed content data D51 can be rapidly providedto the data providing server 1101.

[0984] On the other hand, if a customer registration request is enteredby the customer via an operating part 1130, the request terminal 1103generates registration request data representing the registrationrequest by a request data generating part 1131, and sends this from asending part 1132 to the data providing server 1101.

[0985] As a result, if the request terminal 1103 receives customerregistration screen data from the data providing server 1101 by areceiving part 1133, the request terminal 1103 transmits the abovereceived customer registration screen data from a display control part1134 to a display part 1135, so that a customer registration screenbased on the customer registration screen data is displayed on the abovedisplay part 1135.

[0986] If customer information is entered on the customer registrationscreen by that the customer operates the operating part 1130, therequest terminal 1103 generates customer information data by the requestdata generating part 1131, and sends this from the sending part 1132 tothe data providing server 1101. Thus, the customer is registered in thedata providing server 1101.

[0987] In this connection, as a result of the customer registration, ifregistration completion data is sent from the data providing server1101, the request terminal 1103 receives this by the receiving part1133, and transmits this to the display part 1135 via the displaycontrol part 1134, to notify the customer of the completion of thecustomer registration and the customer ID via the above display part1135.

[0988] If content data obtaining request is entered by the customer viathe operating part 1130, the request terminal 1103 generates obtainingrequest data representing that obtaining request (including the customerID) by the request data generating part 1131, and sends the abovegenerated obtaining request data from the sending part 1132 to the dataproviding server 1101.

[0989] As a result, if the request terminal 1103 receives contentselecting screen data from the data providing server 1101 by thereceiving part 1133, the request terminal 1103 transmits this from thedisplay control part 1134 to the display part 1135, so that a contentselecting screen based on the content selecting screen data is displayedon the above display part 1135.

[0990] Then, if reservation information is entered on the contentselecting screen by that the customer operates the operating part 1130,the request terminal 1103 generates reservation data by the request datagenerating part 1131, and sends this from the sending part 1132 to thedata providing server 1101. Thus, the reservation of purchase/rental ofthe specified content data and the portable dedicated terminal 1104 bythe customer is finished.

[0991] In this connection, as a result of that the obtaining requestdata is sent to the data providing server 1101, if that the customer isnot a regular customer is detected and stopping the acceptance of theobtaining request is notified, the request terminal 1103 receives thatnotification by the receiving part 1133, and transmits this to thedisplay part 1135 via the display control part 1134, to notify thecustomer of that accepting the obtaining request is stopped via theabove display part 1135, and to urge the customer to a customerregistration.

[0992] Furthermore, if a reproducing command is entered via an operatingpart 1141, the portable dedicated terminal 1104 which has beensold/rented to the customer in the state where the specified compressedcontent data has been recorded in the internal recording medium 1140,reproduces the specified compressed content data previouslybought/rented by the customer from the recording medium 1140 by areproducing control part 1142, and transmits the above reproducedspecified compressed content data to a decoding part 1143.

[0993] The portable dedicated terminal 1104 decodes the specifiedcompressed content data by the decoding part 1143, and transmits thusobtained specified content data to a reproducing part 1144 composed of adisplay control part, a display part, a speaker, etc. Thus, the customercan enjoy a content based on the specified content data.

[0994] Furthermore, if a content data obtaining request is entered bythe customer via the operating part 1141, the portable dedicatedterminal 1104 generates obtaining request data that represents theobtaining request and includes the customer ID and the terminalidentification information, for instance, previously recorded in therecording medium 1140, by the request data generating part 1145, andsends the above generated obtaining request data from the sending part1146 to the data providing server 1101.

[0995] As a result, if the portable dedicated terminal 1104 receivescontent selecting screen data from the data providing server 1101 by areceiving part 1147, the portable dedicated terminal 1104 transmits thisto the reproducing part 1144, so that a content selecting screen basedon the content selecting screen data is displayed.

[0996] Then, if specifying information on specified content data isentered on the content selecting screen according to the operation ofthe operating part 1141, the portable dedicated terminal 1104 generatescontent specifying data D53 that represents the specifying informationand includes the customer ID and the terminal identificationinformation, for instance, previously recorded in the recording medium1140 by the request data generating part 1145, and sends the abovegenerated content specifying data D53 from the sending part 1146 to thedata providing server 1101.

[0997] As a result, if the portable dedicated terminal 1104 receives thespecified compressed content data D51 from the data providing server1101 by a receiving part 346, the portable dedicated terminal 1104records the above received specified compressed content data D51 in therecording medium 1140 by a recording control part 1148.

[0998] Thereby, after that, the portable dedicated terminal 1104 canreproduce the specified compressed content data newly obtained (that is,bought/rented), from the recording medium 1140 by the reproducingcontrol part 1142, according to the operation of the operating part1141, similarly to the aforementioned case.

[0999] Here, content providing and obtaining processing procedures bythe data providing server 1101, the content server 1102 and the portablededicated terminal 1104 in the data providing system 1100 will becollectively described. As shown in FIGS. 66A and 67A, the portablededicated terminal 1104 first enters routine RT50 from the start step,and proceeds to step SP601.

[1000] In step SP601, the portable dedicated terminal 1104 awaits thatan obtaining request is entered via the operating part 1141. If theabove obtaining request is entered, the portable dedicated terminal 1104proceeds to step SP602.

[1001] In step SP602, the portable dedicated terminal 1104 generatesobtaining request data by the request data generating part 1145, andsends this from the sending part 1146 to the data providing server 1101.Then, the portable dedicated terminal 1104 proceeds to step SP603.

[1002] At this time, as shown in FIGS. 66B and 67B, the data providingserver 1101 enters routine RT51 from the start step, and proceeds tostep SP621. In the above step SP621, the data providing server 1101awaits that obtaining request data is sent from the portable dedicatedterminal 1104.

[1003] Then, in step SP621, if the data providing server 1101 receivesthe obtaining request data from the portable dedicated terminal 1104 bythe receiving part 1111, the data providing server 1101 proceeds to stepSP622.

[1004] In step-SP622, the data providing server 1101 judges whether ornot terminal identification information included in the obtainingrequest data is terminal identification information peculiar to aauthorized portable dedicated terminal 1104 sold/rented to the customerfrom the agency, by the customer updating/retrieving part 1114.

[1005] Obtaining an affirmative result in this step SP622 means that thecustomer requested to obtain specified content data by means of aauthorized portable dedicated terminal 1104 that the customerbought/rented from the agency (that is, the customer sent obtainingrequest data). At this time, the data providing server 1101 proceeds tostep SP623.

[1006] In step SP623, the data providing server 1101 reads contentselecting screen data from the content database 1113 according to theobtaining request data by the data updating/retrieving part 1112, andsends the above read content selecting screen data from the sending part1116 to the portable dedicated terminal 1104. Then, the data providingserver 1101 proceeds to step SP624.

[1007] At this time, in step SP603, the portable dedicated terminal 1104awaits that the content selecting screen data is sent from the dataproviding server 1101. If the portable dedicated terminal 1104 receivesthe above content selecting screen data by the receiving part 1147, theportable dedicated terminal 1104 transmits this to the reproducing part1144 and displays a content selecting screen, and proceeds to stepSP604.

[1008] In step SP604, the portable dedicated terminal 1104 awaits thatspecifying information for specifying the specifying content data isentered on the content selecting screen according to the operation ofthe operating part 1141. If the above specifying information is entered,the portable dedicated terminal 1104 proceeds to step SP605.

[1009] In step SP605, the portable dedicated terminal 1104 generatescontent specifying data D53 by the request data generating part 1145,sends the above generated content specifying data D53 from the sendingpart 1146 to the data providing server 1101, and proceeds to step SP606.

[1010] At this time, in step SP624, the data providing server 1101awaits that the content specifying data D53 is sent from the portablededicated terminal 1104. If the data providing server 1101 receives thecontent specifying data D53 from the above portable dedicated terminal1104, the data providing server 1101 proceeds to step SP625.

[1011] In step SP625, the data providing server 1101 detects a specifiedcompression coding method corresponding to the terminal identificationinformation on the portable dedicated terminal 1104 used by thecustomer, based on the content specifying data D53 by the customerupdating/retrieving part 1114, retrieves data in the content database1113 based on the information on that specified compression codingmethod and the content specifying data D53 by the dataupdating/retrieving part 1112, and proceeds to step SP626.

[1012] In step SP626, the data providing server 1101 judges whether ornot specified compressed content data D51 should be obtained accordingto the obtaining request of the specified content data by the customer.

[1013] Obtaining a negative result in this step SP626 means that thespecified compressed content data D51 has been stored in the contentdatabase 1113 of the data providing server 1101, or it means that thespecified compressed content data D51 has not been stored in the abovecontent database 1113, however, there is packaged media storing thespecified content data being the original data of the specifiedcompressed content data D51 in many packaged media that the agency dealsin.

[1014] At this time, the data providing server 1101 reads the specifiedcompressed content data D51 from the content database 1113 by the dataupdating/retrieving part 1112, or reproduces the specified content datafrom the packaged media, compressively codes this by the specifiedcompression coding method, and generates the specified compressedcontent data D51 by the data updating/retrieving part 1112, thereproducing part 1117 and the compressing part 1118. Then, the dataproviding server 1101 proceeds to step SP627.

[1015] On the contrary, obtaining an affirmative result in step SP626means that the specified compressed content data D51 has not been storedin the content database 1113 of the data providing server 1101 and thereis no packaged media storing the specified content data being theoriginal data of the specified compressed content data D51 also in thepackaged media that the agency deals in. At this time, the dataproviding server 1101 proceeds to step SP628.

[1016] In step SP628, the data providing server 1101 generates contentrequest data D50 based on the content specifying data D53 by the dataupdating/retrieving part 1112, sends the above generated content requestdata D50 from the sending part 1116 to the content server 1102, andproceeds to step SP629.

[1017] At this time, as shown in FIGS. 66C and 67C, the content server1102 enters routine RT52 from the start step, and proceeds to stepSP641. In the above step SP641, the content server 1102 awaits that thecontent request data D50 is sent from the data providing server 1101.

[1018] Then, in step SP641, if the content server 1102 receives thecontent request data D50 from the data providing server 1101 by thereceiving part 1120, the content server 1102 proceeds to step SP642.

[1019] In step SP642, the content server 1102 retrieves data in thecontent database 1110 based on the content request data D50 by the dataupdating/retrieving part 1121, and proceeds to step SP643.

[1020] In step SP643, the content server 1102 judges whether or not itis necessary to generate the above specified compressed content data D51according to the obtaining request of the specified compressed contentdata D51 from the data providing server 1101.

[1021] Obtaining a negative result in this step SP643 means that thespecified compressed content data D51 has been stored in the contentdatabase 1110 of the content server 1102. At this time, the contentserver 1102 reads the specified compressed content data D51 andcorresponding content additional data D52 from the content database 1110based on the content request data D50 by the data updating/retrievingpart 1121, and proceeds to step SP644.

[1022] On the contrary, obtaining an affirmative result in step SP643means that the specified compressed content data D51 has not been storedin the content database 1110 of the content server 1102 and it isnecessary to generate the specified compressed content data D51 by meansof packaged media that the sales company deals in. At this time, thecontent server 1102 proceeds to step SP645.

[1023] In step SP645, the content server 1102 reproduces the specifiedcontent data from the packaged media, compressively codes the abovereproduced specified content data by the specified compression codingmethod, and generates specified compressed content data D51 by the dataupdating/retrieving part 1121, the reproducing part 1123 and thecompressing part 1124, and proceeds to step SP646.

[1024] In step SP646, the content server 1102 generates contentadditional information corresponding to the above specified compressedcontent data D51 based on package additional information on the packagedmedia that was used to generate the specified compressed content dataD51, adds the above generated content additional information to acontent data table in the content database 1110, and updates the abovecontent data table. Then, the content server 1102 proceeds to stepSP644.

[1025] In step SP644, the content server 1102 sends the specifiedcompressed content data D51 and the content additional data D52 readfrom the content database 1110 in step SP643, or the specifiedcompressed content data D51 generated in step SP645, from the sendingpart 1122 to the data providing server 1101 with the content additionaldata D52 representing the content additional information generated instep SP646. Then, the content server 1102 proceeds to step SP647, andfinishes the processing of the above content server 1102.

[1026] At this time, in step SP629, the data providing server 1101awaits that the specified compressed content data D51 and the contentadditional data D52 are sent from the content server 1102. If the dataproviding server 1101 receives the above specified compressed contentdata D51 and content additional data D52 by the receiving part 1111, thedata providing server 1101 proceeds to step SP630.

[1027] In step SP630, the data providing server 1101 stores thespecified compressed content data D51 obtained from the content server1102 in the content database 1113, adds the content additionalinformation based on the content additional data D52 obtained from theabove content server 1102 to a content data table in the contentdatabase 1113, and updates the above content data table, by the dataupdating/retrieving part 1112. Then, the data providing server 1101proceeds to step SP627.

[1028] In step SP627, the data providing server 1101 sends the specifiedcompressed content data D51 corresponding to the content specifying dataD53 from the sending part 1116 to the portable dedicated terminal 1104.Then, the data providing server 1101 proceeds to step SP228, andfinishes the processing by the above data providing server 1101.

[1029] In this connection, obtaining a negative result in theaforementioned step SP622 means that the customer requested to obtainspecified content data (that is, the customer sent the obtaining requestdata) by means of another communication device different from aauthorized portable dedicated terminal 1104 that the customerbought/rented from the agency. At this time, the data providing server1101 proceeds to step SP631.

[1030] In step SP606, the portable dedicated terminal 1104 awaits thatthe specified compressed content data D51 is sent from the dataproviding server 1101. If the portable dedicated terminal 1104 receivesthe above specified compressed content data D51 by the receiving part1147, the portable dedicated terminal 1104 proceeds to step SP607.

[1031] In step SP607, the portable dedicated terminal 1104 records thespecified compressed content data D51 obtained from the data providingserver 1101 in the recording medium 1140 by the recording control part1148, and proceeds to step SP608 to finish the processing by the aboveportable dedicated terminal 1104. Thus, the data providing system 1100completely finishes the content providing and obtaining processing.

[1032] In this manner, the above data providing system 1100 can providespecified compressed content data D51 that has been always compressivelycoded by a specified compression coding method specified by the customerto the portable dedicated terminal 1104.

[1033] In the above configuration, in this data providing system 1100,the portable dedicated terminal 1104 applying a specified decodingmethod corresponding to a desired specified compression coding method issold/rented to the customer registered as a customer in the dataproviding server 1101.

[1034] Furthermore, in this data providing system 1100, many compressedcontent data, content additional information composed of information ona compression coding method that was used when these compressed contentdata were generated respectively and content identification, and packageadditional information representing content data stored in each packagedmedia that the agency deals in, have been stored in the content database1113 of the data providing server 1101.

[1035] Furthermore, in this data providing system 1100, as customerregistration information on the customer registered as a customer in thecustomer database 1115 of the data providing server 1101, terminalidentification information peculiar to the portable dedicated terminal1104 sold/rented to the customer and information on the specifiedcompression coding method desired by the customer corresponding to theabove terminal identification information have been stored.

[1036] Then, in this data providing system 1100, if content specifyingdata D53 representing desired specified content data and terminalidentification peculiar to the portable dedicated terminal 1104 are sentfrom the portable dedicated terminal 1104 used by the customer to thedata providing server 1101, the data providing server 1101 retrievescustomer registration information in the customer database 1115 based onthe content specifying data D53 and detects a specified compressioncoding method corresponding to the terminal identification information,and retrieves content additional information in the content database1113 based on the above detected information on the specifiedcompression coding method and content data specifying information storedin the content specifying data D53.

[1037] As a result, in this data providing system 1100, if that thespecified content data specified by the customer has been stored in thecontent database 1113 as specified compressed content data D51 isdetected, the data providing server 1101 reads that specified compressedcontent data D51 from the above content database 1113, and sends theabove read specified compressed content data D51 to the portablededicated terminal 1104.

[1038] Furthermore, in this data providing system 1100, if that thespecified content data specified by the customer has not been stored inthe content database 1113 as the specified compressed content data D51is detected, the data providing server 1101 retrieves package additionalinformation in the content database 1113 based on the content dataspecifying information stored in the content specifying data D53.

[1039] As a result, in the data providing system 1100, if that theagency deals in packaged media storing the specified content data beingthe original data of the specified compressed content data D51 isdetected, the data providing server 1101 reproduces that specifiedcontent data from the packaged media storing the above specified contentdata, compressively codes the reproduced data by the specifiedcompression coding method corresponding to the terminal identificationinformation, and sends thus obtained specified compressed content dataD51 to the portable dedicated terminal 1104.

[1040] Accordingly, in this data providing system 1100, the abovespecified content data can be provided to the customer as the specifiedcompressed content data D51 compressively coded by the specifiedcompression coding method corresponding to a specified decoding methodapplied to the portable dedicated terminal 1104, every time when theportable dedicated terminal 1104 requests the data providing server 1101to obtain the specified content data.

[1041] Therefore, in the data providing system 1100, the above specifiedcompressed content data D51 can be accurately decoded by the decodingpart 1143 previously provided in the portable dedicated terminal 1104,every time when the portable dedicated terminal 1104 obtains thespecified compressed content data D51, without newly obtaining adecoding software or newly providing a decoding circuit applying anotherdecoding method different from a specified decoding method previouslyapplied.

[1042] In this data providing system 1100, in the data providing server1101, if specified compressed content data D51 is newly generatedaccording to the obtaining request of specified content data by means ofpackaged media, the above generated specified compressed content dataD51 is additionally stored in the content database 1113.

[1043] Accordingly, in this data providing system 1100, compressedcontent data for providing can be properly increased according to theobtaining request of specified content data. Thereby, when compressedcontent data is provided, a possibility that the data providing server1101 generates new compressed content data can be reduced. Therefore,also load on processing at the time of providing compressed content datacan be reduced.

[1044] In this data providing system 1100, in the case where thespecified compressed content data D51 has not been stored in the contentdatabase 1113 of the data providing server 1101 and the agency does notdeal in the packaged media storing the specified content data, thespecified compressed content data D51 is sent from the content server1102 to the portable dedicated terminal 1104 via the data providingserver 1101.

[1045] Therefore, in this data providing system 1100, even if thecircuit scale of the data providing server 1101 is comparatively reducedand also the shop scale of the agency is comparatively reduced, variousspecified compressed content data D51 can be provided to the customervia the portable dedicated terminal 1104.

[1046] According to the above configuration, in the data providingserver 1101, whether or not specified compressed content data D51generated by compressively coding specified content data by a specifiedcompression coding method corresponding to terminal identificationinformation has been stored in the content database 1113 is detectedaccording to content specifying data D53 including the terminalidentification information sent from the portable dedicated terminal1104. As the detection result, if the specified compressed content dataD51 has been stored in the content database 1113, the specifiedcompressed content data D51 is read from the above content database1113, and sent to the portable dedicated terminal 1104. If the specifiedcompressed content data D51 has not been stored in the content database1113, the specified content being the original data of the abovespecified compressed content data D51 is compressively coded by thespecified compression coding method by means of packaged media togenerate the specified compressed content data D51, and the abovegenerated specified compressed content data D51 is sent to the portablededicated terminal 1104. Thereby, specified compressed content data D51generated by compressively coding specified content data by a specifiedcompression coding method corresponding to a specified decoding methodcan be accurately provided, every time when the obtaining of specifiedcontent data is requested from a portable dedicated terminal 1104,without newly applying another decoding method different from aspecified decoding method previously applied to the portable dedicatedterminal 1104. Thus, a data providing system that the customer caneasily view a content based on content data can be accomplished.

[1047] Note that, in the aforementioned eleventh embodiment, it hasdealt with the case where the data providing server 1101 is installed inthe agency and the content server 1102 is installed in the salescompany. However, this invention is not only limited to this but alsoprovided that specified compressed content data D51 can beprovided/supplied, the data providing server 1101 and the content server1102 may be installed in various places.

[1048] In the aforementioned eleventh embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where the portable dedicated terminal 1104 applying a specifieddecoding method corresponding to a specified compression coding methodis delivered to the customer by specifying the desired specifiedcompression coding method to the data providing server 1101 at the timeof a customer registration. However, this invention is not only limitedto this but also a specified compression coding method may be arbitraryselected on the data providing server 1101 side so that the portablededicated terminal 1104 applying a decoding method corresponding to thecompression coding method of the specified compressed content data D51stored in the content database 1113 of the data providing server 1101and the content database 1110 of the content server 1102 as thespecified content data specified by the customer at the time of previousreservation is delivered to the customer, without specially specifyingdesired compression coding method in a customer registration.

[1049] In the aforementioned eleventh embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where the data providing server 1101 and the content server 1102respectively constantly detect the most-frequently-used compressioncoding method, and compressively code all of the content data using acompression coding method different from the above detectedmost-frequently-used compression coding method by thatmost-frequently-used compression coding method. However, this inventionis not only limited to this but also the most-frequently-usedcompression coding method may be constantly detected for each variouscategories such as the genre, type, and artist of content, and all ofcontent data using the compression coding method different from themost-frequently-used compression coding method may be compressivelycoded by that most-frequently-used compression coding method bycategories.

[1050] In the aforementioned eleventh embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where compressed content data compressively coded by variouscompression coding methods will be provided by the data providing server1101 and the content server 1102. However, this invention is not onlylimited to this but also only compressed content data compressivelycoded by an arbitrary one type of compression coding method may beprovided by the data providing server 1101 and the content server 1102.

[1051] Thereby, the agency can prepare only the portable dedicatedterminal 1104 applying one type of decoding method and provide this.Thus, the cost of arranging portable dedicated terminals 1104 for saleand rental can be reduced.

[1052] Furthermore, if obtaining specified content data is requestedfrom the customer using the portable dedicated terminal 1104, it isunnecessary to confirm a specified compression coding method desired bythe customer. Therefore, it is necessary to confirm only whether or notthe portable dedicated terminal 1104 that was used in the obtainingrequest of the specified content data is an authorized portablededicated terminal 1104 based on terminal identification information.Thus, the processing of the acceptance of the obtaining request can besimplified.

[1053] In the aforementioned eleventh embodiment, it has dealt with thecase where if the specified compressed content data D51 has not beenstored in the content database 1113 of the content database 1113 and thecontent database 1110 of the content server 1102, the specifiedcompressed content data D51 is generated by means of packaged media.However, this invention is not only limited to this but also a newdatabase may be provided in the data providing server 1101 and/or thecontent server 1102 to previously store content data being the originaldata of compressed content data, and if the specified compressed contentdata D51 has not been stored in the content databases 1113 and 1110, thespecified compressed content data D51 may be generated by means ofcontent data in the database.

[1054] Furthermore, in the aforementioned eleventh embodiment, it hasdealt with the case where the data providing server 1101, the contentserver 1102 and the portable dedicated terminal 1104 execute the contentproviding and obtaining processing procedure described above withreference to FIGS. 66A to 66C, and 67A to 67C. However, this inventionis not only limited to this but also a program to execute the contentproviding and obtaining processing procedure may be respectivelypreviously stored in the data providing server 1101, the content server1102 and the portable dedicated terminal 1104, and the content providingand obtaining processing may be executed according to these programs,and a program storing medium storing the program may be installed in thedata providing server 1101, the content server 1102 and the portablededicated terminal 1104 to execute the above content providing andobtaining processing.

[1055] In this connection, as a program storing medium for installingvarious programs to execute the above content providing and obtainingprocessing in the data providing server 1101, the content server 1102and the portable dedicated terminal 1104 and for making them executable,for instance, it may be realized by a semiconductor memory and amagnetic disk, that temporary or permanently store various programs,only by packaged media such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM and a DVD.Furthermore, as means for storing various programs in the programstoring medium, a cable/wireless communication medium such as a localarea network, the Internet, and a digital satellite broadcasting may beused, and the programs may be stored via various communication interfacesuch as a router and a modem.

[1056] (13) Other Embodiments

[1057] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where in order to obtain compressed content data,identification information peculiar to a content obtaining apparatus istransmitted from the content obtaining apparatus. However, thisinvention is not only limited to this but also identification datarepresenting a specified compression coding method applied to thecontent obtaining apparatus may be transmitted.

[1058] Note that, in the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments,it has dealt with the case where as a content providing apparatus forproviding compressed content data generated by compressively codingcontent data by a specified compression coding method according to thisinvention, the data providing server 1101 described above with referenceto FIGS. 63 to 67C is applied. However, this invention is not onlylimited to this but also, provided that compressed content datagenerated by compressively coding content data by a specifiedcompression coding method is provided, content providing apparatuseshaving various configurations other than that, such as a contentproviding apparatus in which the data providing server 1101 and thecontent server 1102 are unified and a content providing apparatus beinga personal computer can be widely applied.

[1059] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as a content obtaining apparatus applying aspecified decoding method corresponding to a specified compressioncoding method, for obtaining compressed content data provided from acontent providing apparatus according to this invention, the portablededicated terminal 1104 described above with reference to FIGS. 63 to67C is applied. However, this invention is not only limited to this butalso, provided that it applies a specified decoding method correspondingto a specified compression coding method and it can obtain compressedcontent data provided from a content providing apparatus, contentobtaining apparatuses having various configurations other than that suchas a personal computer, a portable telephone, and a personal digitalassistance (PDA) can be widely applied.

[1060] Furthermore, in the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments,it has dealt with the case where as a content providing and obtainingsystem constructed by a content providing apparatus for providingcompressed content data generated by compressively coding content databy a specified compression coding method, and a content obtainingapparatus applying a specified decoding method corresponding to thespecified compression coding method, for obtaining compressed contentdata provided from the content providing apparatus, the data providingsystem 1100 described above with reference to FIGS. 63 to 67C isapplied. However, this invention is not only limited to this but also,provided that it is a system capable of obtaining compressed contentdata provided from a content providing apparatus by means of a contentobtaining apparatus applying a specified decoding method correspondingto a specified compression coding method, content providing andobtaining systems having other various configurations other than thatcan be widely applied.

[1061] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as a content supplying apparatus for supplyingcompressed content data to a content providing apparatus, the contentserver 1102 described above with reference to FIGS. 63 to 67C isapplied. However, this invention is not only limited to this but also,provided that it can supply compressed content data to a contentproviding apparatus, a content supplying apparatuses having variousconfigurations other than that such as a content supplying apparatusbeing a personal computer can be widely applied.

[1062] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as data storing means for storing plural kinds ofcompressed content data, the content database 1113 described above withreference to FIGS. 63 to 67C is applied. However, this invention is notonly limited to this but also, provided that it can store plural kindsof compressed content data, various data storing means other than thatcorresponding to a recording medium to be used can be widely applied.

[1063] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as information receiving means for receivingidentification information peculiar to a content obtaining apparatussent therefrom and specifying information representing specified contentdata that the customer wanted to obtain, the receiving part 1111connected to the Internet described above with reference to FIGS. 63 to67C is applied. However, this invention is not only limited to this butalso, provided that it can receive identification information peculiarto a content obtaining apparatus sent therefrom and specifyinginformation representing specified content data that the customer wantedto obtain, various information receiving means other than thatcorresponding to a radio/cable communication system to be used can bewidely applied.

[1064] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as data detecting means for detecting whether or notspecified compressed content data generated by compressively codingspecified content data by a specified compression coding methodcorresponding to identification information has been stored in datastoring means according to the identification information and specifyinginformation, the data updating/retrieving part 1112 described above withreference to FIGS. 63 to 67C is applied. However, this invention is notonly limited to this but also, provided that it can detect whether ornot specified compressed content data generated by compressively codingspecified content data by a specified compression coding methodidentification information has been stored in data storing meansaccording to the identification information and specifying information,various data detecting means other than that such as a CPU and amicroprocessor can be widely applied.

[1065] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as reading means in the case where specifiedcompressed content data has been stored in the data storing means forreading the specified compressed content data from the data storingmeans according to the detection result by the data detecting meansaccording to the detection result by the data detecting means, the dataupdating/retrieving part 1112 described above with reference to FIGS. 63to 67C is applied. However, this invention is not only limited to thisbut also, provided that in the case where the specified compressedcontent data has been stored in the data storing means, it can read thespecified compressed content data from the data storing means, accordingto the detection result by the data detecting means, various readingmeans other than that such as a CPU and a microprocessor can be widelyapplied.

[1066] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as compressively-coding means, in the case wherespecified compressed content data has not been stored in the datastoring means, for compressively coding specified content data being theoriginal data of the above specified compressed content data by aspecified compression coding method and generating the specifiedcompressed content data, according to the detection result by the datadetecting means, the compressing part 1118 described above withreference to FIGS. 63 to 67C is applied. However, this invention is notonly limited to this but also, provided that in the case where thespecified compressed content data has not been stored in the datastoring means, it can compressively code the specified content databeing the original data of the above specified compressed content databy a specified compression coding method and can generate the specifiedcompressed content data, according to the detection result by the datadetecting means, various compressively-coding means other than that suchas a CPU and a microprocessor that compressively codes data by means ofa software for compression coding can be widely applied.

[1067] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as data transmitting means for transmittingspecified compressed content data read from the data storing means bythe reading means and specified compressed content data generated by thecompressively-coding means to a content obtaining apparatus, the sendingpart 1116 connected to the Internet described above with reference toFIGS. 63 to 67C is applied. However, this invention is not only limitedto this but also, provided that it can transmit specified compressedcontent data read from the data storing means by the reading means andspecified compressed content data generated by the compressively-codingmeans to a content obtaining apparatus, various data transmitting meansother than that corresponding to a radio/cable communication system tobe used can be widely applied.

[1068] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as information transmitting means for transmittingidentification information and specifying information to a contentproviding apparatus, the sending part 1146 connected to the Internetdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 63 to 67C is applied. However,this invention is not only limited to this but also, provided that itcan transmit identification information and specifying information to acontent providing apparatus, various information transmitting meansother than that corresponding to a radio/cable communication system tobe used can be widely applied.

[1069] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as data receiving means for receiving specifiedcompressed content data from a content providing apparatus, thereceiving part 1147 connected to the Internet described above withreference to FIGS. 63 to 67C is applied. However, this invention is notonly limited to this but also, provided that it can receive specifiedcompressed content data from a content providing apparatus, various datareceiving means other than that corresponding to a radio/cablecommunication system to be used can be widely applied.

[1070] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as decoding means for decoding specified compressedcontent data by a specified decoding method and generating specifiedcontent data, the decoding part 1143 described above with reference toFIGS. 63 to 67C is applied. However, this invention is not only limitedto this but also, provided that it can decode specified compressedcontent data by a specified decoding method and generate specifiedcontent data, various decoding means other than that such as a CPU and amicroprocessor that perform decoding by means of a decoding software canbe widely applied.

[1071] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as judging means for judging whether or not acontent obtaining apparatus which transmitted identification informationis an authorized apparatus usable the providing service of specifiedcontent data based on the identification information, the customerupdating/retrieving part 1114 described above with reference to FIGS. 63to 67C is applied. However, this invention is not only limited to thisbut also, provided that it can judge whether or not a content obtainingapparatus which transmitted identification information is an authorizedapparatus usable the providing service of specified content data basedon the identification information, various judging means other than thatsuch as a CPU and a microprocessor can be widely applied.

[1072] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as information storing means for storingidentification information and information on a specified compressioncoding method corresponding to a specified decoding method applied to acontent obtaining apparatus allocated to which the above identificationinformation has been allocated by making a correspondence, the customerdatabase 1115 described above with reference to FIGS. 63 to 67C isapplied. However, this invention is not only limited to this but also,provided that it can store identification information and information ona specified compression coding method corresponding to a specifieddecoding method applied to a content obtaining apparatus to which theabove identification information has been allocated by making acorrespondence, various information storing medium other than that canbe widely applied corresponding to a recording medium to be used.

[1073] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as information detecting means for detecting aspecified compression coding method corresponding to identificationinformation in information storing means based on identificationinformation sent from a content obtaining apparatus, the customerupdating/retrieving part 1114 described above with FIGS. 63 to 67C isapplied. However, this invention is not only limited to this but also,provided that it can detect a specified compression coding methodcorresponding to identification information in data storing means basedon the identification information sent from a content obtainingapparatus, various information detecting means other than that such as aCPU and a microprocessor can be widely applied.

[1074] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as recording means, when specified compressedcontent data is generated by the compressively-coding means, forrecording and storing the above generated specified compressed contentdata in the data storing means, the data updating/retrieving part 1112described above with reference to FIGS. 63 to 67C is applied. However,this invention is not only limited to this but also, provided that whenspecified compressed content data is generated by thecompressively-coding means, it can record and store the above generatedspecified compressed content data in data storing means, variousrecording means other than that such as a CPU and a microprocessor canbe widely applied.

[1075] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as supply-side data storing means for storing pluralkinds of compressed content data for supply at least different fromplural kinds of compressed content data stored in the data storing meansof a content providing apparatus, the content database 1110 describedabove with reference to FIGS. 63 to 67C is applied. However, thisinvention is not only limited to this but also, provided that it canstore plural kinds of compressed content data for supply at leastdifferent from plural kinds of compressed content data stored in thedata storing means of a content providing apparatus, various supply-sidedata storing means other than that corresponding to a recording mediumto be used can be widely applied.

[1076] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as supply-side information receiving means forreceiving request information representing a specified compressioncoding method and specified content data from a content providingapparatus, the receiving part 1120 connected to the Internet describedabove with reference to FIGS. 63 to 67C is applied. However, thisinvention is not only limited to this but also, provided that it canreceive request information representing a specified compression codingmethod and specified content data from a content providing apparatus,various supply-side information receiving means other than thatcorresponding to a radio/cable communication system to be used can bewidely applied.

[1077] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as supply-side data detecting means for detectingwhether or not specified compressed content data generated bycompressively coding specified content data by a specified compressioncoding method has been stored in the supply-side data storing meansbased on request information, the data updating/retrieving part 1121described above with reference to FIGS. 63 to 67C is applied. However,this invention is not only limited to this but also, provided that itcan detect whether or not specified compressed content data generated bycompressively coding specified content data by a specified compressioncoding method has been stored in supply-side data storing means based onrequest information, various supply-side data detecting means other thanthat such as a CPU and a microprocessor can be widely applied.

[1078] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as supply-side reading means, in the case where thespecified compressed content data has been stored in the supply-sidedata storing means, for reading the specified compressed content datafrom the supply-side data storing means according to the detectionresult by the supply-side data detecting means, the dataupdating/retrieving part 1121 described above with reference to FIGS. 63to 67C is applied. However, this invention is not only limited to thisbut also, in the case where the specified compressed content data hasbeen stored in the supply-side data storing means, if it can read thespecified compressed content data from the supply-side data storingmeans according to the detection result by the supply-side datadetecting means, various supply-side reading means other than that suchas a CPU and a microprocessor can be widely applied.

[1079] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as supply-side compressively-coding means, in thestate where specified compressed content data has not been stored in thesupply-side data storing means, for compressively coding specifiedcontent data being the original data of the above specified compressedcontent data by a specified compression coding method according to thedetection result by the supply-side data detecting means, thecompressing part 1124 described above with reference to FIGS. 63 to 67Cis applied. However, this invention is not only limited to this butalso, in the state where specified compressed content data has not beenstored in the supply-side data storing means, if it can compressivelycode specified content data being the original data of the abovespecified compressed content data by a specified compression codingmethod and generate specified compressed content data according to thedetection result by the supply-side data detecting means, varioussupply-side compression coding means other than that such as a CPU and amicroprocessor that perform compression coding by means of a softwarefor compressing can be widely applied.

[1080] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as supply-side data transmitting means fortransmitting specified compressed content data read from the supply-sidedata storing means by the supply-side reading means and specifiedcompressed content data generated by the supply-sidecompressively-coding means to a content providing apparatus, the sendingpart 1122 connected to the Internet described above with reference toFIGS. 63 to 67C is applied. However, this invention is not only limitedto this but also, provided that it can transmit specified compressedcontent data read from supply-side data storing means by the supply-sidereading means and specified compressed content data generated bysupply-side compressively-coding means to a content providing apparatus,various supply-side data transmitting means other than thatcorresponding to a radio/cable communication system to be used can bewidely applied.

[1081] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as data presence detecting means, in the state wherespecified compressed content data has not been stored in the datastoring means, for detecting the presence of specified content databeing the original data of the above specified compressed content dataaccording to the detection result by the data detecting means, the dataupdating/retrieving part 1112 described above with reference to FIGS. 63to 67C is applied. However, this invention is not only limited to thisbut also, provided that in the state where specified compressed contentdata has not been stored in data storing means, it can detect thepresence of specified content data being the original data of the abovespecified compressed content data according to the detection result bythe data detecting means, various data presence detecting means otherthan that such as a CPU and a microprocessor, can be widely applied.

[1082] In the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments, it has dealtwith the case where as request sending means, in the state where theabsence of specified content data being the original data of specifiedcompressed content data is detected by the data presence detectingmeans, for sending request information to a content supplying apparatus,the sending part 1116 connected to the Internet described above withreference to FIGS. 63 to 67C is applied. However, this invention is notonly limited to this but also, provided that in the state where theabsence of specified content data being the original data of specifiedcompressed content data is detected by the data presence detectingmeans, it can send request information to a content supplying apparatus,various request sending means other than that corresponding to aradio/cable communication system can be widely applied.

[1083] Furthermore, in the aforementioned first to eleventh embodiments,it has dealt with the case where as receiving means for receivingspecified compressed content data from a content supplying apparatus,the receiving part 1111 connected to the Internet described above withreference to FIGS. 63 to 67C is applied. However, this invention is notonly limited to this but also, provided that it can receive specifiedcompressed content data from a content supplying apparatus, variousreceiving means other than that corresponding to a radio/cablecommunication system to be used can be widely applied.

[1084] While there has been described in connection with the preferredembodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled inthe art that various changes and modifications may be aimed, therefore,to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications asfall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A content providing and obtaining system composedof a content providing apparatus for providing compressed content datagenerated by compressively coding content data by a specifiedcompression coding method, and a content obtaining apparatus applying aspecified decoding method corresponding to the specified compressioncoding method, for obtaining said compressed content data provided fromsaid content providing apparatus, wherein: said content providingapparatus comprises data storing means for storing said compressedcontent data compressively coded by one or more kinds of compressioncoding methods, information receiving means for receiving identificationinformation for identifying said specified decoding method applied tothe content obtaining apparatus, and specifying information representingspecified content data, transmitted from said content obtainingapparatus, data detecting means for detecting whether or not specifiedcompressed content data generated by compressively coding said specifiedcontent data by said specified compression coding method correspondingto said identification information has been stored in said data storingmeans, according to said identification information and said specifyinginformation, reading means, according to the detection result by saiddata detecting means, if said specified compressed content data has beenstored in said data storing means, for reading said specified compressedcontent data from said data storing means, compressively-coding means,according to the detection result by said data detecting means, if saidspecified compressed content data has not been stored in said datastoring means, for compressively coding said specified content databeing the original data of the above specified compressed content databy said specified compression coding method, and generating saidspecified compressed content data, and data transmitting means fortransmitting said specified compressed content data read from said datastoring means by said reading means, or said specified compressedcontent data generated by said compressively-coding means, to saidcontent obtaining apparatus; and said content obtaining apparatuscomprises information transmitting means for transmitting saididentification information and said specifying information to saidcontent providing apparatus, data receiving means for receiving saidspecified compressed content data transmitted from said contentproviding apparatus, and decoding means for decoding said specifiedcompressed content data by said specified decoding method, andgenerating said specified content data.
 2. The content providing andobtaining system according to claim 1, wherein: said content obtainingapparatus transmits identification data for identifying the abovecontent obtaining apparatus to said content providing apparatus as saididentification information; and said content providing apparatusspecifies said specified decoding method by said identification data. 3.The content providing and obtaining system according to claim 1,wherein: said content providing apparatus includes judging means forjudging whether or not said content obtaining apparatus whichtransmitted said identification information is an authorized apparatususable the providing service of said specified content data, based onsaid identification information; and only in the case where said contentobtaining apparatus was judged as an authorized apparatus usable saidproviding service of said specified content data by said judging means,said data detecting means detects whether or not specified compressedcontent data generated by compressively coding said specified contentdata by said specified compression coding method corresponding to saididentification information has been stored in said data storing means,based on said specifying information.
 4. The content providing andobtaining system according to claim 1, wherein: said content providingapparatus includes information storing means for storing saididentification information, and information on said specifiedcompression coding method corresponding to said specified decodingmethod applied to said content obtaining apparatus to which the aboveidentification information has been allocated, by making acorrespondence, and information detecting means for detecting saidspecified compression coding method corresponding to the identificationinformation in said information storing means, based on saididentification information transmitted from said content obtainingapparatus; and said data detecting means detects whether or notspecified compressed content data generated by compressively coding saidspecified content data by said specified compression coding methodcorresponding to said identification information has been stored in saiddata storing means, based on said specifying information and saidspecified compression coding method detected by said informationdetecting means.
 5. The content providing and obtaining system accordingto claim 1, wherein; said content providing apparatus includes recordingmeans, if said specified compressed content data is generated by saidcompressively-coding means, for recording and storing the abovegenerated specified compressed content data in said data storing means.6. The content providing and obtaining system according to claim 1,wherein: a content supplying apparatus having supply-side data storingmeans for storing compressed content data for supply that has beencompressively coded by a compression coding method at least differentfrom said compressed content data stored in said data storing means ofsaid content providing apparatus, supply-side information receivingmeans for receiving request information representing said specifiedcompression coding method and said specified content data, from saidcontent providing apparatus, supply-side data detecting means fordetecting whether or not said specified compressed content datagenerated by compressively coding said specified content data by saidspecified compression coding method has been stored in said supply-sidedata storing means, based on said request information, supply-sidereading means, according to the detection result by said supply-sidedata detecting means, if said specified compressed content data has beenstored in said supply-side data storing means, for reading saidspecified compressed content data from said supply-side data storingmeans, supply-side compressively-coding means, according to thedetection result by said supply-side data detecting means, if saidspecified compressed content data has not been stored in saidsupply-side data storing means, for compressively coding said specifiedcontent data being the original data of the above specified compressedcontent data by said specified compression coding method, and generatingsaid specified compressed content data, and supply-side datatransmitting means for transmitting said specified compressed contentdata read from said supply-side data storing means by said supply-sidereading means, or said specified compressed content data generated bysaid supply-side compressively-coding means to said content providingapparatus is provided; said content providing apparatus includes datapresence detecting means, according to the detection result by said datadetecting means, if said specified compressed content data has not beenstored in said data storing means, for detecting the presence/absence ofsaid specified content data being the original data of the abovespecified compressed content data, request transmitting means, if theabsence of the specified content data being the original data of saidspecified compressed content data is detected by said data presencedetecting means, for transmitting said request information to saidcontent supplying apparatus, and receiving means for receiving saidspecified compressed content data transmitted from said contentsupplying apparatus; and said data transmitting means of said contentproviding apparatus transmits said specified compressed content datareceived by said receiving means to said content obtaining apparatus. 7.A method of providing and obtaining a content by providing compressedcontent data generated by compressively coding content data by aspecified compression coding method from a content providing apparatus,and obtaining the above provided compressed content data by a contentobtaining apparatus applying a specified decoding method correspondingto the specified compression coding method, wherein: said contentproviding method comprises the information receiving step of receivingidentification information for identifying said specified decodingmethod applied to the content obtaining apparatus, and specifyinginformation representing specified content data, from said contentobtaining apparatus, the data detecting step of detecting whether or notspecified compressed content data generated by compressively coding saidspecified content data by said specified compression coding methodcorresponding to said identification information has been stored in datastoring means for storing plural kinds of said compressed content data,according to said identification information and said specifyinginformation, the compressively-coding step, according to the detectionresult in said data detecting step, if said specified compressed contentdata has been stored in said data storing means, of reading saidspecified compressed content data from said data storing means, and ifsaid specified compressed content data has not been stored in said datastoring means, of compressively coding said specified content data beingthe original data of the above specified compressed content data by saidspecified compression coding method, and generating said specifiedcompressed content data, and the data transmitting step of transmittingsaid specified compressed content data read from said data storingmeans, or said generated specified compressed content data, to saidcontent obtaining apparatus; and said content obtaining method comprisesthe information transmitting step of transmitting said identificationinformation and said specifying information to said content providingapparatus, the data receiving step of receiving said specifiedcompressed content data from said content providing apparatus, and thedecoding step of decoding said specified compressed content data by saidspecified decoding method, and generating said specified content data.8. The method of providing and obtaining a content according to claim 7,wherein: said content obtaining apparatus transmits identification datafor identifying the above content obtaining apparatus to said contentproviding apparatus as said identification information; and said contentproviding apparatus specifies said specified decoding method by saididentification data.
 9. The method of providing and obtaining a contentaccording to claim 7, wherein: said content providing method includesthe judging step of judging whether or not said content obtainingapparatus which transmitted said identification information is anauthorized apparatus usable the providing service of said specifiedcontent data, based on said identification information; and only in thecase where said content obtaining apparatus was judged as an authorizedapparatus usable said providing service of said specified content datain said judging step, said data detecting step detects whether or notspecified compression content data generated by compressively codingsaid specified content data by said specified compression coding methodcorresponding to said identification information has been stored in saiddata storing means, based on said specifying information.
 10. The methodof providing and obtaining a content according to claim 7, wherein: saidcontent providing method includes the information storing step ofstoring said identification information, and information on saidspecified compression coding method corresponding to said specifieddecoding method applied to said content obtaining apparatus to which theabove identification information has been allocated, in informationstoring means by making a correspondence, and the information detectingstep of detecting said specified compression coding method correspondingto the above identification information in said information storingmeans, based on said identification information transmitted from saidcontent obtaining apparatus; and said data detecting step detectswhether or not specified compressed content data generated bycompressively coding said specified content data by said specifiedcompression coding method corresponding to said identificationinformation has been stored in said data storing means, based on saidspecifying information and said specified compression coding methoddetected in said information detecting step.
 11. The method of providingand obtaining a content according to claim 7, wherein; said contentproviding method includes the recording step of recording and storingsaid generated specified compressed content data in said data storingmeans.
 12. The method of providing and obtaining a content according toclaim 7, wherein: a content supplying method for supplying saidcompressed content data to said content providing apparatus includes thesupply-side information receiving step of receiving request informationrepresenting said specified compression coding method and said specifiedcontent data, from said content providing apparatus, the supply-sidedata detecting step of detecting whether or not said specifiedcompressed content data generated by compressively coding said specifiedcontent data by said specified compression coding method has been storedin supply-side data storing means for storing compressed content datafor supply that has been compressively coded by a compression codingmethod at least different from said compressed content data stored insaid data storing means of said content providing apparatus, based onsaid request information, the supply-side compressively-coding step,according to the detection result in said supply-side data detectingstep, if said specified compressed content data has been stored in saidsupply-side data storing means, of reading said specified compressedcontent data from said supply-side data storing means, and if saidspecified compressed content data has not been stored in saidsupply-side data storing means, of compressively coding said specifiedcontent data being the original data of the above specified compressedcontent data by said specified compression coding method, and generatingsaid specified compressed content data, and the supply-side datatransmitting step of transmitting said specified compressed content dataread from said supply-side data storing means, or said generatedspecified compressed content data, to said content providing apparatus;said content providing method includes the data presence detecting step,according to the detection result in said data detecting step, if saidspecified compressed content data has not been stored in said datastoring means, of detecting the presence/absence of said specifiedcontent data being the original data of the above specified compressedcontent data, the request transmitting step, if the absence of thespecified content data being the original data of said specifiedcompressed content data is detected in said data presence detectingstep, of transmitting said request information to said content supplyingapparatus, and the receiving step of receiving said specified compressedcontent data from said content supplying apparatus; and said datatransmitting step transmits said specified compressed content datareceived in said receiving step to said content obtaining apparatus. 13.A content providing apparatus for providing compressed content datagenerated by compressively coding content data by a specifiedcompression coding method, to a content obtaining apparatus applying aspecified decoding method corresponding to the specified compressioncoding method, comprising: data storing means for storing saidcompressed content data compressively coded by one or more kinds ofcompression coding methods; information receiving means for receivingidentification information for identifying said specified decodingmethod applied to the content obtaining apparatus, and specifyinginformation representing specified content data, from said contentobtaining apparatus; data detecting means for detecting whether or notspecified compressed content data generated by compressively coding saidspecified content data by said specified compression coding methodcorresponding to said identification information has been stored in saiddata storing means, according to said identification information andsaid specifying information; reading means, according to the detectionresult by said data detecting means, if said specified compressedcontent data has been stored in said data storing means, for readingsaid specified compressed content data from said data storing means;compressively-coding means, according to the detection result by saiddata detecting means, if said specified compressed content data has notbeen stored in said data storing means, for compressively coding saidspecified content data being the original data of the above specifiedcompressed content data by said specified compression coding method, andgenerating said specified compressed content data; and data transmittingmeans for transmitting said specified compressed content data read fromsaid data storing means by said reading means, or said specifiedcompressed content data generated by said compressively-coding means, tosaid content obtaining apparatus.
 14. The content providing apparatusaccording to claim 13, wherein: said identification informationtransmitted from said content obtaining apparatus is identification datafor identifying the above content obtaining apparatus; and said datadetecting means specifies said specified decoding method by saididentification data.
 15. The content providing apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein: judging means for judging whether or not said contentobtaining apparatus which transmitted said identification information isan authorized apparatus usable the providing service of said specifiedcontent data, based on said identification information, is included; andonly in the case where said content obtaining apparatus was judged as anauthorized apparatus usable said providing service of said specifiedcontent data by said judging means, said data detecting means detectswhether or not specified compressed content data generated bycompressively coding said specified content data by said specifiedcompression coding method corresponding to said identificationinformation has been stored in said data storing means, based on saidspecifying information.
 16. The content providing apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein: information storing means for storing saididentification information, and information on said specifiedcompression coding method corresponding to said specified decodingmethod applied to said content obtaining apparatus to which the aboveidentification information has been allocated, by making acorrespondence, and information detecting means for detecting saidspecified compression coding method corresponding to the aboveidentification information in said information storing means, based onsaid identification information transmitted from said content obtainingapparatus are included; and said data detecting means detects whether ornot specified compressed content data generated by compressively codingsaid specified content data by said specified compression coding methodcorresponding to said identification information has been stored in saiddata storing means, based on said specifying information and saidspecified compression coding method detected by said informationdetecting means.
 17. The content providing apparatus according to claim13, including; recording means, if said specified compressed contentdata is generated by said compressively-coding means, for recording andstoring the above generated specified compressed content data in saiddata storing means.
 18. The content providing apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein: data presence detecting means, according to thedetection result by said data detecting means, if said specifiedcompressed content data has not been stored in said data storing means,for detecting the presence/absence of said specified content data beingthe original data of the above specified compressed content data,request transmitting means, if the absence of the specified content databeing the original data of said specified compressed content data isdetected by said data presence detecting means, for transmitting requestinformation representing said specified compression coding method andsaid specified content data, to a content supplying apparatus havingsupply-side data storing means for storing compressed content data forsupply that has been compressively coded by a compression coding methodat least different from said compressed content data stored in said datastoring means, and receiving means, as a result that said requestinformation was transmitted to said content supplying apparatus, if saidspecified compressed content data has been stored in said supply-sidedata storing means the above content supplying apparatus, for receivingsaid specified compressed content data read and transmitted from saidsupply-side data storing means of the above content supplying apparatus,and if said specified compressed content data has not been stored insaid supply-side data storing means, for receiving said specifiedcompressed content data generated by compressively coding said specifiedcontent data being the original data of the above specified compressedcontent data by said specified compression coding method and thentransmitted are included; and said data transmitting means transmitssaid specified compressed content data received by said receiving meansto said content obtaining apparatus.
 19. A method of providing a contentby providing compressed content data generated by compressively codingcontent data by a specified compression coding method to a contentobtaining apparatus applying a specified decoding method correspondingto the specified compression coding method, comprising: the informationreceiving step of receiving identification information for identifyingsaid specified decoding method applied to the content obtainingapparatus, and specifying information representing specified contentdata, from said content obtaining apparatus; the data detecting step ofdetecting whether or not specified compressed content data generated bycompressively coding said specified content data by said specifiedcompression coding method corresponding to said identificationinformation has been stored in data storing means for storing saidcompressed content data that has been compressively coded by one or morekinds of compression coding methods, according to said identificationinformation and said specifying information; the compressively-codingstep, according to the detection result in said data detecting step, ifsaid specified compressed content data has been stored in said datastoring means, of reading said specified compressed content data fromsaid data storing means, and if said specified compressed content datahas not been stored in said data storing means, of compressively codingsaid specified content data being the original data of the abovespecified compressed content data by said specified compression codingmethod, and generating said specified compressed content data; and thedata transmitting step of transmitting said specified compressed contentdata read from said data storing means, or said generated specifiedcompressed content data, to said content obtaining apparatus.
 20. Themethod of providing a content according to claim 19, wherein: saididentification information transmitted from said content obtainingapparatus is identification data for identifying the above contentobtaining apparatus; and said data detecting step includes the step ofspecifying said specified decoding method by said identification data.21. The method of providing a content according to claim 19, comprising:the judging step of judging whether or not said content obtainingapparatus which transmitted said identification information is anauthorized apparatus usable the providing service of said specifiedcontent data, based on said identification information; and wherein onlyin the case where said content obtaining apparatus was judged as anauthorized apparatus usable said providing service of said specifiedcontent data in said judging step, said data detecting step detectswhether or not specified compressed content data generated bycompressively coding said specified content data by said specifiedcompression coding method corresponding to said identificationinformation has been stored in said data storing means, based on saidspecifying information.
 22. The method of providing a content accordingto claim 19, comprising: the information storing step of storing saididentification information, and information on said specifiedcompression coding method corresponding to said specified decodingmethod applied to said content obtaining apparatus to which the aboveidentification information has been allocated, in information storingmeans, by making a correspondence, and the information detecting step ofdetecting said specified compression coding method corresponding to theabove identification information in said information storing means,based on said identification information transmitted from said contentobtaining apparatus; and wherein said data detecting step detectswhether or not specified compressed content data generated bycompressively coding said specified content data by said specifiedcompression coding method corresponding to said identificationinformation has been stored in said data storing means, based on saidspecifying information and said specified compression coding methoddetected in said information detecting step.
 23. The method of providinga content according to claim 19, including; the recording step ofrecording and storing said generated specified compressed content datain said data storing means.
 24. The method of providing a contentaccording to claim 19, comprising: the data presence detecting step,according to the detection result in said data detecting step, if saidspecified compressed content data has not been stored in said datastoring means, of detecting the presence/absence of said specifiedcontent data being the original data of the above specified compressedcontent data, the request transmitting step, if the absence of thespecified content data being the original data of said specifiedcompressed content data is detected in said data presence detectingstep, of transmitting request information representing said specifiedcompression coding method and said specified content data, to a contentsupplying apparatus having supply-side data storing means for storingcompressed content data for supply that has been compressively coded bya compression coding method at least different from said compressedcontent data stored in said data storing means, and the receiving step,as a result that said request information was transmitted to saidcontent supplying apparatus, if said specified compressed content datahas been stored in said supply-side data storing means, of receivingsaid specified compressed content data read and transmitted from saidsupply-side data storing means of the above content supplying apparatus,and if said specified compressed content data has not been stored insaid supply-side data storing means, of receiving said specifiedcompressed content data generated by compressively coding said specifiedcontent data being the original data of the above specified compressedcontent data by said specified compression coding method and thentransmitted; and wherein said data transmitting step transmits saidspecified compressed content data received in said receiving step tosaid content obtaining apparatus.
 25. A content providing programstoring medium for making a content providing apparatus execute acontent providing program, said program comprising: the informationreceiving step of receiving identification information for identifying aspecified decoding method, and specifying information representingspecified content data, from a content obtaining apparatus applying thespecified decoding method corresponding to a specified compressioncoding method, for obtaining compressed content data generated bycompressively coding content data by the specified compression codingmethod; the data detecting step of detecting whether or not specifiedcompressed content data generated by compressively coding said specifiedcontent data by said specified compression coding method correspondingto said identification information has been stored in data storing meansfor storing said compressed content data that has been compressivelycoded by one or more kinds of compression coding methods, according tosaid identification information and said specifying information; thecompressively-coding step, according to the detection result in saiddata detecting step, if said specified compressed content data has beenstored in said data storing means, of reading said specified compressedcontent data from said data storing means, and if said specifiedcompressed content data has not been stored in said data storing means,of compressively coding said specified content data being the originaldata of the above specified compressed content data by said specifiedcompression coding method, and generating said specified compressedcontent data; and the data transmitting step of transmitting saidspecified compressed content data read from said data storing means, orsaid generated specified compressed content data, to said contentobtaining apparatus.
 26. The content providing program storing mediumaccording to claim 25, wherein: said identification informationtransmitted from said content obtaining apparatus is identification datafor identifying the above content obtaining apparatus; and said datadetecting step includes the step of specifying said specified decodingmethod by said identification data.
 27. The content providing programstoring medium according to claim 25, said program comprising: thejudging step of judging whether or not said content obtaining apparatuswhich transmitted said identification information is an authorizedapparatus usable the providing service of said specified content data,based on said identification information; and wherein only in the casewhere said content obtaining apparatus was judged as an authorizedapparatus usable said providing service of said specified content datain said judging step, said data detecting step detects whether or notspecified compressed content data generated by compressively coding saidspecified content data by said specified compression coding methodcorresponding to said identification information has been stored in saiddata storing means, based on said specifying information.
 28. Thecontent providing program storing medium according to claim 25, saidprogram comprising: the information storing step of storing saididentification information, and information on said specifiedcompression coding method corresponding to said specified decodingmethod applied to said content obtaining apparatus to which the aboveidentification information has been allocated, in information storingmeans, by making a correspondence, and the information detecting step ofdetecting said specified compression coding method corresponding to theabove identification information in said information storing means,based on said identification information transmitted from said contentobtaining apparatus; and wherein said data detecting step detectswhether or not specified compressed content data generated bycompressively coding said specified content data by said specifiedcompression coding method corresponding to said identificationinformation has been stored in said data storing means, based on saidspecifying information and said specified compression coding methoddetected in said information detecting step.
 29. The content providingprogram storing medium according to claim 25, said program comprising;the recording step of recording and storing said generated specifiedcompressed content data in said data storing means.
 30. The contentproviding program storing medium according to claim 25, said programcomprising: the data presence detecting step, according to the detectionresult in said data detecting step, if said specified compressed contentdata has not been stored in said data storing means, of detecting thepresence/absence of said specified content data being the original dataof the above specified compressed content data, the request transmittingstep, if the absence of the specified content data being the originaldata of said specified compressed content data is detected in said datapresence detecting step, of transmitting request informationrepresenting said specified compressed coding method and said specifiedcontent data, to a content supplying apparatus having supply-side datastoring means for storing compressed content data for supply that hasbeen compressively coded by a compression coding method at leastdifferent from said compressed content data stored in said data storingmeans, and the receiving step, as a result that said request informationwas transmitted to said content supplying apparatus, if said specifiedcompressed content data has been stored in said supply-side data storingmeans, of receiving said specified compressed content data read andtransmitted from said supply-side data storing means of the abovecontent supplying apparatus, and if said specified compressed contentdata has not been stored in said supply-side data storing means, ofreceiving said specified compressed content data generated bycompressively coding said specified content data being the original dataof the above specified compressed content data by said specifiedcompression coding method and then transmitted; and wherein said datatransmitting step transmits said specified compressed content datareceived in said receiving step to said content obtaining apparatus. 31.A content providing program for making a content providing apparatusexecute, the program including: the information receiving step ofreceiving identification information peculiar to a content obtainingapparatus, and specifying information representing specified contentdata, from said content obtaining apparatus applying a specifieddecoding method corresponding to a specified compression coding method,for obtaining compressed content data generated by compressively codingcontent data by the specified compression coding method; the datadetecting step of detecting whether or not specified compressed contentdata generated by compressively coding said specified content data bysaid specified compression coding method corresponding to saididentification information has been stored in data storing means forstoring plural kinds of said compressed content data, according to saididentification information and said specifying information; thecompressively-coding step, according to the detection result in saiddata detecting step, if said specified compressed content data has beenstored in said data storing means, of reading said specified compressedcontent data from said data storing means, and if said specifiedcompressed content data has not been stored in said data storing means,of compressively coding said specified content data being the originaldata of the above specified compressed content data by said specifiedcompression coding method, and generating said specified compressedcontent data; and the data transmitting step of transmitting saidspecified compressed content data read from said data storing means, andsaid generated specified compressed content data, to said contentobtaining apparatus.
 32. The content providing program according toclaim 31, comprising: the judging step of judging whether or not saidcontent obtaining apparatus which transmitted said identificationinformation is an authorized apparatus usable the providing service ofsaid specified content data, based on said identification information;and wherein only in the case where said content obtaining apparatus wasjudged as an authorized apparatus usable said providing service of saidspecified content data in said judging step, said data detecting stepdetects whether or not specified compressed content data generated bycompressively coding said specified content data by said specifiedcompression coding method corresponding to said identificationinformation has been stored in said data storing means, based on saidspecifying information.
 33. The content providing program according toclaim 31, comprising: the information storing step of storing saididentification information, and information on said specifiedcompression coding method corresponding to said specified decodingmethod applied to said content obtaining apparatus to which the aboveidentification information has been allocated, in information storingmeans, by making a correspondence, and the information detecting step ofdetecting said specified compression coding method corresponding to theabove identification information in said information storing means,based on said identification information transmitted from said contentobtaining apparatus; and wherein said data detecting step detectswhether or not specified compressed content data generated bycompressively coding said specified content data by said specifiedcompression coding method corresponding to said identificationinformation has been stored in said data storage means, based on saidspecifying information and said specified compression coding methoddetected in said information detecting step.
 34. The content providingprogram according to claim 31, comprising; the recording step ofrecording and storing said generated specified compressed content datain said data storing means.
 35. The content providing program accordingto claim 31, comprising: the data presence detecting step, according tothe detection result in said data detecting step, if said specifiedcompressed content data has not been stored in said data storing means,of detecting the presence/absence of said specified content data beingthe original data of the above specified compressed content data, therequest transmitting step, if the absence of the specified content databeing the original data of said specified compressed content data isdetected in said data presence detecting step, of transmitting requestinformation representing said specified compression coding method andsaid specified content data, to a content supplying apparatus havingsupply-side data storing means for storing compressed content data forsupply that has been compressively coded by a compression coding methodat least different from said compressed content data stored in said datastoring means, and the receiving step, as a result that said requestinformation was transmitted to said content supplying apparatus, if saidspecified compressed content data has been stored in said supply-sidedata storing means, of receiving said specified compressed content dataread and transmitted from said supply-side data storing means of theabove content supplying apparatus, and if said specified compressedcontent data has not been stored in said supply-side data storing means,of receiving said specified compressed content data generated bycompressively coding said specified content data being the original dataof the above specified compressed content data by said specifiedcompression coding method and then transmitted; and wherein said datatransmitting step transmits said specified compressed content datareceived in said receiving step to said content obtaining apparatus.